Challenge: lack of timely updates from the terminal
All shipping lines, such as ONE, have common needs: reduce waiting and anchor time and improve just-in-time sailing for their fleets globally.
Container vessels today spend an average of 5-10% of their time at anchor*. These idle times are frequently caused by a lack of coordination between vessels, terminals, and ports. When changes in terminal planning are not communicated in real-time, shipping lines are often forced to wait at anchorage. By being informed of changes in the terminal planning, container vessels can reduce their speed in advance to arrive just-in-time or reroute the vessel to another port keeping high efficiency.
Data sharing technologies can reduce time wasted in the approach to a port by providing real-time insights into the availability of terminals, nautical services, and the waterway. These insights allow Marine Operators and planners to adjust speed and optimize voyage/arrival planning, which in turn reduces the time spend at anchorage and reduces unnecessary fuel usage and CO2 emissions.
Our client: ONE
ONE is currently the sixth-largest carrier in the world, established in 2018 and jointly owned by the Japanese shipping companies K-Line, NYK Line, and MOL and around 350 of their own/partner vessels call in The Port of Rotterdam annually. ONE is part of The Alliance, together with Yang Ming and Hapag Lloyd.
Head of Operations Robin de Puij is responsible for monitoring the ONE vessels and the contact with the terminals. To reduce anchorage time ONE implemented the PortXchange data-sharing platform Synchronizer; “We were searching for a platform that would enable us to better monitor, analyze and optimize the approach to and handling of our vessels in the Port of Rotterdam,’ De Puij stated as the reason for ONE’s choice for Synchronizer. “Multiple parties offer solutions for this, but PortXchange’s Synchronizer platform is currently the best and most well-developed option. It contains good dashboards and warning and analysis tools. The whole port benefits from this platform if all parties involved in a port call enter the information into the platform. This offers fantastic opportunities to reduce costs and achieve environmental advantages.”
Solution: Receiving information from Terminal planning
The Synchronizer platform provides ONE’s operators with on-time information regarding everything that is happening around their port calls. To monitor real-time changes and take action in time, users can use the Synchronizer terminal planning tab.
Through the platform, ONE has access to Hutchison Ports ECT Delta schedules which helps to take better operational decisions and to plan in advance. On the other hand, ONE shares its updated schedule with all the stakeholders in the port community.
The Synchronizer platform is used to monitor, measure, and analyze operations in the port, supporting ONE to stick to their sailing schedules. Furthermore ONE uses historical insight into the arrival and departure times of bunker vessels, waste collectors, and nautical service providers enriched with Synchronizer’s prediction and real-time data to improve its activities while in the port. Thanks to this high level of port visibility, it is possible to execute all the operations related to a port call according to the planning.
Result: just-in-time arrivals
“Via PortXchange, we receive the information we need to reach the Port of Rotterdam just-in-time.” – De Puij, Head of Operations, ONE
All involved players share information with the platform and this has improved the just-in-time arrival of the vessels and strengthened the cooperation between ONE’s vessel operation and the terminal.
A vessel that needs to wait at anchorage costs a lot of money, that’s why container vessels need to arrive just-in-time at the port. De Puij: “Sometimes you sail too fast, so you reach the next port too early and need to anchor. This results in waiting times as well as unnecessary fuel consumption. That’s why we want to know in advance how much time we have until the next port.”
Innovative solution
“It would be even better if the surrounding ports also participated ”, according to De Puij. “We’ve all worked really hard on this. And we receive a lot of support from PortXchange’s developers. The platform offers excellent opportunities to analyze port calls afterward”.
“A high level of visibility and improved cooperation is essential to leave the port quickly and report to the next port in time. The terminals also benefit from this. The faster and more accurately vessels can be handled and exchanged, the higher their productivity.”
