State-owned entity Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has started the registration process for its integrated port management system (IPMS), which is scheduled to go live in the Port of Durban at the end of July.

TNPA started issuing registration instructions to external users, such as vessel agents, from July 1.

A Web-based, end-to-end integrated system, IPMS will automate the operations of TNPA’s eight commercial ports. It provides near-real-time access to the full range of operational information accessed centrally online to deliver improved service to TNPA customers and enhance port performance and efficiency.

“Global ports are adopting smartPORT concepts and the world is increasingly embracing digital technologies and data analytics to make sense of the information that we have around us. Gathering that information in the first place is a challenge.

“We want to place emphasis on ‘smart people ports’ with a focus on development, which is very important to us. We believe that the glue or the backbone of our entire port system is information systems, but in an integrated way, where we manage just about every input and output to make monitoring, tracking, evaluating and optimising a lot simpler,” TNPA CE Richard Vallihu says. Benchmarked

He adds that the IPMS has been benchmarked against Malaysian and Singaporean ports, which are among the world’s most efficient.

“This is a first in Africa, where we integrate all the ports on a single platform and can integrate with just about every logistics system out there, including rail, road traffic and, obviously, the vessels out in the port and at sea,” he notes.

The IPMS replaces manual processes that are used for monitoring marine operations, vessel traffic services and terminal performance. It was designed to integrate the logistics around vessel traffic services, marine and terminal operations and rail logistics, as well as to provide real-time reporting capability across the port system.