A new cargo community system has been formed with the Durban-based African Port Network (APN) due to launch its virtual market to the cargo and vessel sectors on September 1. A business-to-business
transactional e-Marketplace.
This follows the launch on May 23 of African Port Network (APN), linking over 288 ports across the African
continent through the hyperlink http://www.africanportnetwork.com
The cargo market is specifically designed for the
maritime industry, said APN director, Wayne Sandeman, linking shippers directly to carrier services.
Lines' sailing schedules; inter-line communication; enquiries; on-line rates negotiations; and vessel tracking are all part of the marketplace package for carriers and shippers.
Carriers are registered in the marketplace on a
payment-per-vessel basis - and allotted a company extranet in the hub. This is a homepage, which is
customisable - add/remove links, change colours, add users and the like.
The main features of the hub allow carriers to:
Enter into online rate negotiations direct with
shippers;
Enter Private markets to interact with other online carriers.
Shippers enter the market place free and
are also allotted a customisable company
extranet in the hub, allowing for:
Managing online rates negotiations
(With latest web technology, said Sandeman);
Marking carrier vessels, and receiving port updates on the homepage.
There is also to be a vessel market - where carriers/brokers can place available vessels; and Private forums allow negotiations with potential charterers.
Users can also link into a maritime section in APN's community-based system featuring news, employment, books, education, subscriptions and forums.
APN is also currently negotiating web-cam facilities in Africa's main ports, Sandeman told FTW, and a maritime-specific auction model is under construction.
The company is a subsidiary of the black-empowerment IT consultancy, Southern Focus which claims Portnet as one if its biggest clients in a portfolio of
government accounts.
August 1 marks the start of carrier registration in the hub, and September 1 the site goes live to shippers.
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