Technological advancements for modernising major ports and reforms for enhancing ease of doing business have been driving and sustaining the growth trend at India’s major ports. The major ports have been deploying technologies in a wide variety of areas, ranging from gate automation to cybersecurity and digitalisation of administrative activities. At a recent webinar organised by Indian Infrastructure, government stakeholders K. Rajendra Kumar, Joint Director, Visakhapatnam Port Trust; V.B.S.V. Rao, Joint Director, Mumbai Port Trust; and Mrinal K. Sirkar, Head, IT, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), discussed key digitalisation initiatives taken by their ports. Excerpts..
JNPT
JNPT has upgraded its terminal operating system to SPARCS N4, a highly advanced operating system in terms of the enhanced features it offers various stakeholders. The port trust has also switched to radio frequency identification (RFID)-based gate automation to mitigate the problem of high traffic congestion at its gates. Besides, JNPT is also planning to develop a centralised parking plaza, where all processing will take place at a centralised location. The plaza will also have access to the terminal operating systems of individual container terminals handled by JNPT, as well as the port connectivity system (PCS), so that all the information can be stored at a centralised location. This will facilitate the transformation to a digital setup, where all unnecessary paperwork can be eliminated. It will be a commercial space and will house banks, a cafeteria, a customs office and offices of all the stakeholders. However, the plan is currently at the inception stage.
JNPT has also collaborated with online truck aggregator BlackBuck to roll out an Uber-like model for picking up and dropping cargo containers, as part of a plan to improve ease of doing business. As and when the port authority releases a container, the company has access to the data, and the importer can readily book a truck trailer for cargo delivery through the BlackBuck platform.
The port trust has also taken numerous initiatives towards cybersecurity, including technological interventions for internal authorisation and authentication of its network. JNPT is also planning to have a web application firewall externally as well as across the two data centres within its local area network. Besides, certain areas have been identified for automation and digital initiatives such as smart contracts and electronic bill of lading, to make JNPT a smart port.
In order to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, JNPT has taken the initiative of issuing e-passes, where people can apply for passes online with the help of a cloud-based application. After the verification of documents, the passes will be authorised digitally and can be then sent to the applicant online. This initiative has helped the port immensely during the lockdown period since applicants have not had to travel to the control room or even apply for the pass via email. These passes can be automatically revalidated and fresh passes generated and sent to an authorised email id. Besides, the port has also launched the e-office concept, under which physical contact with office files can be minimised by transferring all the files to the e-office, so that they are made available digitally.
Currently, JNPT is extremely concerned about cybersecurity due to the numerous cyberattacks taking place in the ports and shipping industry. The port is monitoring its network traffic on a regular basis and is also planning to introduce some special applications to safeguard itself against the risk of cyberattacks. It has also restricted internet traffic coming from abroad as another safety measure. Besides, the online meetings conducted by the office have been completely separated from the office network to minimise the possibility of a cyberattack. However, the port has been recently facing certain challenges in conducting virtual meetings, the most important being the lack of technical know-how among the employees and officials.
Mumbai Port Trust
The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) has also taken key initiatives towards infusion of new technologies in its operations and administration. It has switched to an online system for issuing permits with biometric registration of visitors. Besides, plans are on the anvil for completely doing away with the need for carrying hard copies of permits by visitors to enter the office premises. The MbPT has also introduced an RFID-based vehicle tracking system where vehicles entering the port are tracked through a one-time RFID issued to them. Besides, the port trust is also looking to connect with the port community system (PCS), that has already been integrated with Vahan, a data repository of all vehicles registered in the country. This integration is expected to do away with the need for separate registration of drivers, since the information will be readily available through the PCS. The PCS will be implemented for gate automation as well. The transport module is to be implemented with the PCS and this requires the entire trade community, including the ports, to be integrated.
On the administration side, the MbPT has also implemented an e-office system that allows staff members to access it online for administrative approvals. In fact, the COVID-19 outbreak has made the e-office necessary for port operations. The port trust has also developed an app where all information regarding vessel movements can be stored online on a real-time basis. Meanwhile, the government is looking to make the bill of lading available online using blockchain technology to facilitate importers and exporters to take delivery directly without any manual intervention.
Since the current infrastructure is becoming obsolete, the port has recently signed an agreement with Tech Mahindra to upgrade its infrastructure to a single enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for five ports – Haldia, Chennai, Deendayal, Paradip and Mumbai. The ERP will have all the components that are expected from a terminal operating system. Besides, the e-office will also be integrated with the ERP system to create a unified digital system. However, the plan has been delayed owing to the COVID-19 situation.
In order to tackle the COVID-19 health hazard, Mumbai port has launched an app for its employees and pensioners where they can check their health status and avail of telemedicine consultations with doctors at the hospital set up by the port trust.
Visakhapatnam Port Trust
As part of its IT initiatives, the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has implemented SAP and all its processes are digitalised. It has also implemented RFID gate automation and online generation of passes. Besides, VPT is planning to create a mobile application for dissemination of reliable information to all stakeholders. It has allowed employees to work from home during the COVID-19 lockdown, and employees can log into the system through a virtual private network. It has also initiated an e-referral system, where referral hospitals directly upload medical bills of employees into the system, from where these are directly shared with the accounts department for administrative clearance. The system has helped minimise physical handling of hospital bills for clearance purposes at the port office.
Most of the Indian ports are yet to gear up for port call optimisation, which is one of the key areas that can save a lot of cost and effort for shippers. Ideally, a ship should spend the least amount of time at a port so that everyone in the chain benefits. VPT is planning to implement port call optimisation in the near future. The port trust believes that real digital transformation is where shipping agents do not have to visit the port office at all, except for taking delivery of cargo. Overall, in terms of digitalisation, there is a need for a cultural transformation of Indian ports.
Summing up
The government is leaving no stone unturned to make ports the drivers of socio-economic change and aid the long-term growth of the economy. The technologies being deployed by the major ports have been a positive move towards achieving this goal. New initiatives are being taken by the ports to tackle the new challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is still a long way to go in this direction. Challenges such as lack of technical know-how and difficulties in adapting to new technologies continue to act as roadblocks in the technological transformation of the port sector.
“We have implemented an e-office, where officers and staff members can access the system online and give approvals.”
V.B.S.V. Rao, Joint Director, Mumbai Port Trust
“We want to give reliable information to all the connected parties so that port call optimisation is implemented in principle.”
K. Rajendra Kumar, Joint Director, Visakhapatnam Port Trust
“In terms of cybersecurity, we have initiated a lot of action for securing our IT infrastructure.”
Mrinal K. Sirkar, Head, IT, JNPT