More than a month after its implementation, Asian Terminals Inc.’s (ATI) web-based container monitoring system for return of empty boxes to the Manila South Harbor has received positive feedback.
“This is a welcome development for the industry and would greatly benefit not just truckers, but also the businesses and consumers who rely on us to bring vital commodities from the ports to warehouses, factories and groceries in a timely manner,” Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines president Ruperto Bayocot said in a statement.
CTAP chairman Rodolfo de Ocampo added that since the system delivers real-time information, it “allows us greater operational predictability and flexibility which will redound to safer and more trips for our truckers, without fear of exploitation.”
Sean Perez, ATI vice president for commercial and marketing, told PortCalls in a chance interview that clients of South Harbor are saying “it’s much easier now (to return containers) because they seem to be coming in more (smoothly).”
ATI in a statement said the new system was a concrete response to the challenge of facilitating the return of empties to dock and off-dock yards, a vital process in the container trade cycle that was compromised by high container inventory and stiff road restrictions at the height of the Manila truck ban.
Functioning like traffic lights on roads, the online system triggers green, yellow, or red lights to indicate where slots for empty containers are available to a shipping line at South Harbor.
The Empty Allocation Advisory has three statuses. A green or open status means ATI can accept empty containers of shipping lines; yellow is a warning that shipping line allocation is nearing allowable limit (less than 20 twenty-footer slots left); and red or close quota means the limit for shipping line allocation has been reached and ATI will no longer accept containers at South Harbor until the liner’s current container inventory in yard is loaded onto the vessel.
The system can be viewed on digital display boards at the terminal or accessed through ATI’s WebTrack facility on its website.
Because the system allows truckers to monitor the real-time acceptance of empties, ATI said truckers can now better plan turnaround trips to the port from their importer’s warehouse, thereby saving on operating costs and helping ease road traffic.
Prior to this, truckers hauled empties to the port at random based on the equipment interchange receipt issued by shipping lines. ATI said that once shipping lines’ allocations are full, trucks stay idle outside terminal gates, which also increased their vulnerability to exploitation on roads.
More apps coming up
In a recent memorandum circular, the port operator said it will come out shortly with a “traffic light” monitoring system for automated double transactions to provide information to those who will return an empty container and pick up a laden container.
Additional call-up boards will also be installed to further improve communication on quota allocation, ATI noted.
ATI said this is just the beginning as it is also eyeing a comprehensive vehicle booking system to keep enhancing the operating environment for truckers over the long term.
In a similar development, the Association of International Shipping Lines is also creating a web-based application for the systematic return of empty containers to terminals and container yards. – Roumina Pablo
