PORT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

CompanyHeadquarters/Key LocationPMIS Product(s)

Caribbean Software SolutionsSt. Maarten, CaribbeanPort Management System

Data-CorePhiladelphia, USAe-PIS

EmprossAthens, GreeceIntegrated Port Management System

EnvisionHyderabad, IndiaiPortman

Experion MaritimeMijnsheerenland, NetherlandsxPort® GISGROJyväskylä, FinlandPort Management & Digitalisation

Innovez PartnersSingaporePort Management Insights (PMIn-sightsTM)

IrugasaHong Kong / Shanghai, ChinaIrugasa PMIS

Klein Systems Group Ltd Burnaby (BC), CanadaKleinport KongsbergKongsberg, NorwayC-Scope

Leonardo CompanyRoma, ItalyI-Port

MarcomMadrid, SpainPORTCONTROL™

NASH MaritimeSouthampton, UKSEE PANEL: TAILORED SOLUTIONS

SaabStockholm, SwedenPortControl

Sercel ConceptNantes, FranceMarlin Smart

TransasMumbai, IndiaTransas PMIS performance, security and resilience. The project represents a US$5.3 million investment by the port to refurbish PORTIC’s technological infrastructure, after more than 10 years in use, with the aim of providing electronic document interchanges while including new AI technologies.

So, there is demand from the port industry for PMIS, but which companies are providing the products?

Table 1 highlights a cross section of the companies currently offering PMIS solutions to ports. While the list is not exhaustive, it nevertheless confirms that the requirement to supply PMIS is global, with the geographic range of companies located throughout Europe, Scandinavia, India, Asia and North America.

“NOTHING IS PERMANENT EXCEPT CHANGE”

This well-known quotation from Greek philosopher Heraclitus is one that Experion Maritime quotes in relation to its port management information system. In a similar vein, Sercel Concept adopts an equally pertinent description of its Marlin Smart PMIS offering: “Automate the mundane so you can focus on the important.”

With more than 5000 commercial ports operating globally, according to Data&, there are a high number of opportunities for companies offering PMIS products, even allowing for removal of hype from reality regarding potential. The market is growing, but so is the need for these solutions.

Although probably better known as a former vehicle manufacturer and builder of fighter jets, Saab underlines why integrated solutions for maritime users on a global basis are needed in order to ensure efficiently run ports, to overcome current challenges: “At present 30 per cent of shipments are delayed, 25 per cent of trucks on the road are empty and each transaction in the supply-chain can involve up to 28 parties.”

Tailored and Modular Solutions: Not One Size Fits All

Ports are implementing PMIS, but it is not uniform, as Chris Hutchings, Technology

Business Lead, NASH Maritime, explains:

“We see differing levels of integration between port management information systems and vessel traffic services at different ports, varying from full integration to almost full separation.

The latter case is typically related to historical use of systems which were not well integrated or took significant resource/time to connect/integrate. With more modern software developments these issues are receding, they allow simpler and slicker integration of systems, from individual but also from multiple software providers.”

However, there are both risks and rewards in this sector, as Hutchings explains: “Making the right technology decision is challenging; getting it wrong can impact budget, delivery and reputation. Typically, we ensure those with responsibility for navigation have the right hardware, software and systems in place to manage vessel traffic and marine operations safely.”

NASH Maritime acknowledges the true importance of this ever-growing area of activity, but accepts there is still some way to go: “Port digitalisation is recognised worldwide as a necessity to support global trade, to improve efficiency and transparency, reduce risks, enhance security and optimise shipping logistics to reduce costs and fuel consumption and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The process is underway, but it is an evolution, not a revolution, in part because maritime trade is global and digital communications need harmonisation, collaboration and coordination across international borders.”

Hutchings further adds that ports need to see the benefits of digitalisation to their operations and situation, and this means provision of tailored solutions which meet their needs rather than a simple one size fits all solution.

Modularity is an approach fully endorsed by NASH Maritime. “We are seeing many clients recognising the benefits of modular port management information systems which can be provided to deliver what they need today, with capacity to add more features/ functionality in future. Modern API links to external data sources and applications are now core requirements which further support a flexible approach,” explains Hutchings.