A digital container platform aiming to unify processes across German ports has added requested new features and gained approval of container lines, reports Seatrade Maritime News.
Digital container platform
The system, named German Ports, is a joint project between Dakosy in Hamburg and dbh Logistics in Bremen. The platform aims to standardise processes for container imports in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen and Wilhelmshaven.
Developed with Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, CMA CGM and Kühne+Nagel, German Ports has added functionality to return containers to alternate depots, and digital declaration of assignment to hand off containers to third parties.
Kühne+Nagel’s Fabian Gäbel said: “Even during the pilot phase, the option of executing releases while specifying an alternate return depot proved to be an indispensable component for our system integration. In order to further reduce unnecessary e-mail communications in the future, we very much welcome the fact that this latest step has been taken and that the empty container depot exchange function has been integrated into the German Ports platform.”
The developers said that alternate return depot functionality will be available through German Ports via an EDI interface as well as in the web application.
On the declaration of assignment, Dirk Gladiator at Dakosy said: “Currently, this is transmitted by e-mail or by fax. Using German Ports, we can digitalize and standardize this process. With between 25 and 30 percent of transactions involving a declaration of assignment, we see great potential for this function.”
DAKOSY and dbh also announced that from the second half of this year, German Ports will provide multi-site container and vessel information for Germany’s main North Sea ports.
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Source: Seatrade Maritime News
