Transnet’s Integrated Port Management System (IPMS), has been rolled out at the Richard’s Bay port. All eight commercial ports across South Africa’s coastline are now using the R79 million web-based system.

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) began registering Richards Bay port users on the IPMS network on 23 November 2015. The MS Insignia passenger vessel was the first to be brought into the port on 26 November using the new ‘smartPORT’ technology.

The system replaces manual processes that were previously used for monitoring marine operations, vessel traffic services and terminal performance and enables key port operations to be managed online and in real time.

Since IPMS was first introduced in July, more than 300 vessel agents have registered onto the system and more than 1 600 vessel arrival notifications have been submitted across all eight ports.

“This journey began in 2008 and is the culmination of various feasibility studies where we identified the need for an automated and web-based system to improve port operations, strengthen efficiencies and enhance competitiveness,” says TNPA chief executive Richard Vallihu.

Vallihu added that IPMS was benchmarked against Malaysian and Singaporean ports. It is a ground-breaking initiative in that for the first time in the world a system such as this is integrated across multiple ports on a single platform.

Richards Bay port manager, Preston Khomo, added that IPMS would bolster transparency and efficiencies in the port, while enabling business continuity.