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Tianjin Port Group has completed the go-live of the Navis N4 terminal operating system (TOS) across its six terminals, becoming the largest container terminal complex using N4.
Prior to implementing N4, Tianjin’s six container terminals operated on three different TOSs and six different versions, adding complexity to the transition.
The go-live was the quickest turnaround ever undertaken by Navis with the team achieving a fully integrated terminal operation in less than eight months.
At completion, successful go-lives took place at Five-continents International Container Terminal, Tianjin Pacific International Container Terminals, Tianjin Alliance International Container Terminal, Tianjin Euro-Asia International Container Terminals, Tianjin Port Container Terminal and Tianjin Orient Container Terminal.
Zhao Decheng, head of Tianjin Port Information Technology, said: “As we continue to grow and expand our services, it was critical that we implement a plan to consolidate and integrate all container terminal operations and support our multi-facility network under a single database.
“In our search for a TOS provider, we also had high expectations for system stability and scalability and needed a partner who could support our clear roadmap to automation.”
A Navis statement noted that under Tianjin Port’s previous fragmented system, it faced operational challenges including a lack of shared resources and uniform technical architecture across terminals, siloed information resulting in the lack of data standardisation, risks to data security and integrity and separate backup systems at each terminal leading to huge capital investment.
Mark Welles, vice president and general manager APAC of Navis, said: “The port can now support the operations of all six container terminals through a single application portfolio and unified database.
“The implementation of the integrated system has improved the overall security of the application system, reduced the operating risk and operating costs and at the same time, the data standardisation under N4 has provided a solid foundation for big data analysis to help with future planning.”