Singapore goes a long way towards creating an intelligent port

For the world's busiest port, technology is vital in ensuring that operations and services are delivered efficiently and effectively round the clock. To further enhance navigation in Singapore's port waters and its approaches, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been promoting the many uses of technology.

For instance, the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and its safety functionalities, used in conjunction with electronic navigational charts, is able to assist in the preparation of voyage plans as well as prevent potential hazards by alerting ships. In addition, the Port Operations Control Centres (POCC) harness technologies such as the Vessel Traffic Information System to monitor and broadcast navigational warnings to ships in the Singapore port and Singapore Strait. Communication is made even easier by an Automatic Identification System, which allows easy contact between ships and the control centres.Staying at the forefront of technology is an integral part of Singapore's port operations and its growth as an international maritime centre. As the national developer of the country's maritime cluster, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has laid the foundation for an intelligent port, where innovative solutions are used to enhance port operations and maritime services. 'Developing intelligent port and maritime service solutions is an integral part of Singapore's growth as an international maritime centre,' said MPA chief executive Lam Yi Young. 'MPA will continue to drive Singapore's aspiration to be a global maritime hub and leverage technology as a key enabler.'

In addition to the state-of-the-art POCCs, MPA has developed online facilities to streamline documentation and business processes. E-commerce portal MARINET enables the shipping community to make online transactions with MPA for a number of services and submissions, such as the submission of vessel arrival and departure declarations, and dangerous goods declarations. Meanwhile, to keep pace with changing needs, innovative IT platform BunkerNet is being developed to automate the bunkering delivery processes for oil majors, bunker suppliers and bunker vessel operators, enabling them to interface seamlessly and submit wirelessly their bunker delivery notes to customers onshore.

Maritime service providers can also track their vessels as well as customers' vessels around the clock through an Internet-based Vessel Tracking System, or I-TRACK. This allows companies which offer a variety of services, such as bunkering, towing and chandling, to better plan their operations and resource deployment, and provide prompt and reliable service to customers. In fact, in an age when connectivity is key, Singapore was the first port in the world to provide ships with wireless mobile broadband connectivity. Known as Wireless-broadband-access for SeaPort, or WISEPORT, it allows ships to enjoy connectivity within Singapore's southern port waters. Activities that were previously restricted to onshore, such as regulatory filings, electronic data exchanges and access to Internet-based applications, can now be done offshore as well. In addition, under MPA's Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund, Singapore-based company Global-I recently developed a ground-breaking container tracking solution called GTrack to improve the visibility and security of high-value perishable cargo requiring cold chain logistics. Technology is also handy in the event of an oil or chemical spill. To minimise damage and deploy emergency responses effectively, MPA uses spill prediction models to forecast the movement of the oil slicks or chemicals hours or days ahead. Working smart, focusing on strategic areas of maritime R&D, Singapore's intelligent port looks set to stay ahead of the curve.

Source: businesstimes.com.sg