East London joins ranks of IT smart ports

Monitoring  marine operations, vessel traffic and terminal performance has been made a lot easier and simpler at the East London port after the facility recently went “live” thanks to a R79-million internet-based management system.

The East London and Mossel Bay ports were the latest Transnet National Ports Authority (TPNA) facilities to implement a new Integrated Port Management System (IPMS), bringing the number of smart ports in South Africa to seven.

The system, developed by Navayuga Infotech, a company based in India in collaboration with their South African partner Nambiti Technologies, streamlines operations at ports and allows them to be much more efficient.

IPMS allows for key operations to be managed online and in real time. It will help port authorities manage the docking and loading of ships by conserving resources, time, space and energy.

Since IPMS was introduced in July this year, 250 vessel agents have registered on the system and more than 1000 vessel arrival notifications have been submitted across the seven ports.

TPNA chief executive Richard Vallihu said the system would help transform “South African ocean gateways”.

TPNA general manager, Mmutle Lentle said: “This is the beginning of one of many initiatives that will see Transnet create visibility within the transport value chain and enable connectedness of the transportation eco-system ranging from ports, rail and road.”

East London’s acting port manager Alvin Singama said he was upbeat about the impact and long-term importance of the system’s introduction, adding it would make the port more efficient.

“This powers the Port of East London firmly into the 21st century, and ensures that our systems benefit from the latest innovations in marine management, a benefit that we will be able to pass directly to our partners and stakeholders in the form of vastly improved efficiencies across all areas of operation.”