The Port of Oakland’s new tech platform, called the Oakland Portal, has gone live, as part of efforts by the West Coast hub to provide a single point to seaport operations.
The portal was created by New Jersey-based logistics software provider Advent Intermodal Solutions as an extension of its customer-based eModal system, which the port’s four marine terminals all use for customer interface.
John Driscoll, the port authority’s maritime director, said: “This is what our industry is asking for. We’re providing a comprehensive digital view of ships, cargo and terminal informational in one place on the computer … no more clicking through multiple websites.”
The Oakland Portal is thought to be the first digital collaboration platform that aggregates shipping information from every marine terminal in a harbour.
The online gateway consolidates information from Oakland’s four active marine terminals, with data including vessel schedules, cargo status and live camera views of port thoroughfares.
According to the port, the features are available to all users although additional specialised functions such as paying terminal fees, cargo status updates and trucker appointments are available with registration and login.
The platform gives users access to the port’s marine terminals all in a single location.
A future iteration, expected to be provided in early 2019, would incorporate real-time performance metrics and dashboards customised for the various portal users such as motor carriers and cargo owners.
The port said that supply chain operators would better manage trade flow with the portal in place.
In its view, cargo owners can know with greater precision when to expect merchandise while trucking companies can know exactly when and where to dispatch drivers for container pick-up.
Container volumes at the West Coast hub increased by 2.9% during the first fourth months of 2018, with 791,371 teu handled.
April 2018 was the port’s best month ever for imports in its 90-year history.
The volume for loaded imports was 75,369 TEU beating the previous record of 75,243 loaded imports in April 2006.
Driscoll stated: “We’re on track for steady growth in our cargo volumes for the rest of the year.”
Loaded imports and exports were up by 1.2% and 0.5% respectively in the first four months of the year.
Growth in exports was hampered by the negative effects of China’s stringent rules on recycled materials.
However, the port’s meat, fruits and vegetable exports helped offset the loss in recycled commodities.
Source: Container Mag