News — September 3, 2018

The Future of Terminals Battling Increased Capacity, Manila Case Study

The future of Terminal Battling Increased Capacity, Manila a case study. 

Containerisation is only growing, JOC estimates global port container terminal capacity will rise just over 2.2% or 125 million TEU by 2022

The question to the industry holistically surrounds the current and future infrastructure plans. Essentially ‘Is our port and terminal ready for the increase in capacity, ship size and do we have the correct and effective systems to accommodate the capacity increases?’ If the answer is no, then what is in the pipeline to accommodate increased capacity?

Effective planning in your Terminal Operating System (TOS) is one element that must be integrated into modern systems to manage capacity better.

The 1-Stop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) is a terminal capacity management system, active in 31 facilities globally. The VBS provides the visibility that a modern-day terminal will need to manage the increased capacity and updates the system to a modern version, where the data can be shared into a Port Community System (PCS) , enhancing and integrating into the TOS for a holistic view of the terminal operations. The VBS has revolutionised ports, in the case of Manila, the VBS (known as TABS) had a profound effect on the socioeconomic status of the local community.

There are 5 pillars to the Port Community System, the Port and Terminal Operations is where 1-Stop focus their ability due to the 1-Stop VBS being the intelligence to the other 4 pillars. Along with 1-Stop’s other products, the supply chain has complete transparency through one platform, one single sign on, to ensure the data, visibility, efficiency and productivity is maximised. Using the TOS to tell 1-Stop when the container has been lifted to the ground, a push notification is sent via the 1-Stop system to advise the shipper, carrier, freight forwarder etc to say where the container is and that it is on the ground. Custom messages flow through the system and advise when the container has been cleared. The container can then be picked up, using the VBS, with the security card scanned through the gates for the carrier to enter the yard.

While this is only a snap shot, Electronic Import Delivery Orders, Pre-Receival Advices, Storage Payments, Vessel Schedules are also transferred through the VBS.
Once the container has left the terminal, there are also many other way’s 1-Stop help the community through our Port Community System including an intermodal solution, a container triangulation service, plus many other solutions to get your container from A-B the most efficient way.

The VBS is provided a Software as a Solution (Saas), the software is customisable per terminal. In previous implementations, terminals have delayed automation upgrades due to the VBS improving their landside and quayside operations so much that the yard is streamlined, increased crane rates, decreased dwell times and increased truck trips due to no congestion entering or exiting the terminal.

Manila – a Case Study
Manila was a paper-based operating port. The TOS had visibility of when and where a container is stacked in the yard. When a truck came to collect the container, the TOS would find the container in the yard and place it on the truck, resulting in many crane movements to collect the container, long dwell and truck turnaround times.

When a vessel arrived, all trucks collecting a container would arrive at the port, at the same time, the congestion would flow onto the main roads in Manila, creating extreme congestion for the public. Trucks would sit in queues for days.

To minimize the effect on the public, in 2014 a truck ban was implemented to prevent trucks on the road during peak times, this created a negative impact on the economy and the port community.
However, with every problem, there is a solution, the Vehicle Booking System (VBS). The Vehicle Booking System is known as Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) in the Philippines.

Removed congestion: TABS streamlined the flow of trucks, as terminals allowed bookings over a 24-hour period, 7 days a week. Trucks arrived in their allocated time and terminals were able to match the number of trucks serviced to the resources available, creating a streamlined process. By streamlining the service, the truck turnaround time decreased from days to hours. The efficiency seen by this process allowed the truck ban to be lifted.

Increased efficiency by 25% in peak periods. Manila ATI can now service an additional 20,000 trucks per month, due to planning and effective allocation of resources to capacity levels.

Allowed Ports to plan: TABS allowed the visual planning of the port yard. A container could be placed in the easiest access point determined by the TABS Booking. ATI and MICT could optimise the crane movements, eliminate paper processes of bookings and decrease dwell time and truck turnaround time. Planning is the real benefit of TABS, as it allows a terminal to optimise all areas of the operational and planning side.

Decreased dwell times by 30% in the first two weeks. In Manila, this had a profound effect. Before TABS, the trucks would wait in queues for days, resulting in congestion on public roads. Using TABS, the congestion eased significantly, and dwell times decreased.

TABS removed cash payments, and created a Points Payments System (PPS). PPS allows users to purchase points that are required to be used for business transactions in the booking system. When a booking is made using TABS, your points balance is used depending on booking times, penalties and other restrictions or rewards advised by the terminal.
This further streamlines the process.

“I think it’s essential for any terminal in this day and age, to not just consider it, but have it.” Christian R. Gonzalez – SVP, Regional Head – Asia Pacific, MICT & Head of Global Corporate

You can watch the results of Manila implementation here: https://www.1-stop.biz/story/1-stop-tabs-manila-2-years-on/