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Press Release
ALLIES to help shipping lines
enhance competitiveness of alliance operations
in Singapore
Singapore, 31 May 2005 -- The exchange of information
among shipping alliance members will be made easier
and more efficient with ALLIE S, an
Alliance Hubbing Solution offered by Portnet.com
Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of PSA Corporation Ltd.
Targeted at improving alliance operations and
slot sharing arrangements, ALLIES streamlines
information exchange on slot forecasting, slot
utilisation reporting and vessel schedules among
shipping partners. It is a single integrated platform
for shipping partners to exchange and consolidate
information on a regular basis. Management information
can also be generated automatically through ALLIES.
This will facilitate better planning and maximise
slot utilisation of vessels for shipping line
partners.
Typically, shipping lines in Singapore collectively
spend more than 6,000 man-hours per month consolidating
and coordinating slot information exchange withother
alliance members. Manual information exchange
can be error prone.However, with ALLIES,
shipping lines can access a central information
repository that updates information on a real-time
basis. ALLIES can be integrated with individual
shipping line s in-house database system.
It can streamline operations and reduce by more
than 50 per cent, the amount of time spent on
manual information exchange.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
(MPA), under its Maritime Innovation and Technology
Fund (MINT) Programme, has approved a funding
of $171,000 to help shipping lines adopt ALLIES
in their daily operations.
Maritime innovations and technology continue
to be a key driver in Singapore s development
as a premier global hub port and an International
Maritime Centre (IMC). The ALLIES project
is another excellent example of PSAs innovations
to bring about greater operational efficiency
and convenience to its shipping alliance operators
when they hub in Singapore. The MPA champions
such unique and innovative projects and is committed
to encouraging more public and private sector
partnerships to develop B2B links and automate
transactions within the Singapore port. I am confident
that ALLIES would further strengthen PSA
s lead as a world -class port terminal operator,
said BG Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive, MPA.
With ALLIES, shipping lines can now
make use of this platform to optimise their processes
and achieve greater efficiency in their operations.
The funding by MPA would accelerate the adoption
of IT solutions by the industry to support alliance
operations in Singapore, which would further enhance
our efficiency as an alliance hub. I would like
to thank MPA for their excellent support in building
the competitiveness of the shipping industry.
PSAs strength lies in our ability to handle
large-scale, complex transhipment arrangements
efficiently, and value-add to customers
needs in their hubbing operations. We will continue
to invest in technology to provide world-class
service to meet the needs of our customers,
said Ms Grace Fu, CEO, South East Asia and Japan,
PSA International."
PSA announced this initiative to key industry
players at the launch of the inaugural Portnet
Advisory Board meeting on 31 May 2005. The annual
meeting brings together leaders in the shipping
industry to discuss emerging technology trends
and identify potential areas of joint collaboration
on the technology front that will enhance the
competitiveness of the shipping industry in Singapore.
About MPA and MINT Fund
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
(MPA) was established on 2 February 1996 as a
statutory board under the Ministry of Transport
with the key functions of developing and
promoting Singapore as a premier global hub port
and an international maritime centre, and to
safeguard Singapore s strategic maritime
interests. As the designated 'Champion Agency',
the
MPA is tasked with expanding the Singapore maritime
sector by developing a strong and
attractive cluster of ancillary services. These
range from, among others, ship roking/management,
marine insurance/finance, maritime legal/arbitration
services, R&D initiatives, and manpower expertise.
In September 2003, the MPA established the S$100
million MINT Fund to develop a strong and vibrant
Maritime Technology Cluster in Singapore by supporting
maritime R&D, test-bedding of maritime technologies
and provide seed funding for maritime technology
start-ups. A platform under the MINT Fund is the
Test-bedding, Research and Innovation Development
for New-maritime Technologies (TRIDENT) for co-funding
technology companies that wish to undertake maritime
research, develop innovations and use Singapore
s port and maritime facilities as test-beds for
trials of their innovations. Websites: www.mpa.gov.sg
and www.singaporemaritimeportal.com
About Portnet.com
Portnet.com, a subsidiary of PSA Corporation Limited,
is a net-generation company run by a
team of Internet-savvy, port operations and port
system experts. It was formed to focus on
helping customers increase their productivity
and save costs through the greater use of
Information Technology and the Internet. Portnet.com
is well positioned to create effective
operational solutions for its customers in the
port and shipping community. Beyond its current
services, Portnet.com will add value to its customers,
in Singapore and around the world,
through the addition of new services required
by shipping lines, ports and maritime
communities. In line with Portnet.com's mission,
such services will lower the costs of operations
and improve asset utilisation, resulting in "win-win"
partnerships for all participating players.
Website: www.portnet.com
About PSA
PSA Singapore Terminals is the world
s largest container transhipment hub. PSA operates
4
container terminals and 2 multi-purpose terminals
in Singapore. It links shippers to an excellent
network of 200 shipping lines with connections
to 600 ports in 123 countries. Shippers have
access to daily sailings to every major port in
the world at this mega hub. Its position as a
standard-bearer of excellence in port operations
has consistently been recognised by the
shipping community. It was voted the 'Best Container
Terminal Operator (Asia)' for the 16th
time at the 2005 Asian Freight & Supply Chain
Awards, and 'Best Container Terminal Operator'
at the Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Awards 2004
for the fifth time since its inauguration in 1999.
Its parent company, PSA International was recently
voted the Best Global Terminal Operator,
an inaugural award at the 2005 Asian Freight &
Supply Chain Awards. Website:
www.psa.com.sg
For more information, please contact:
Ms Jeannie Tay
Corporate Communications Officer
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
DID: 6375 1628
Mobile: 975 99703
Email: Jeannie_M_S_TAY@mpa.gov.sg
Ms Lee Siew Hoon
Deputy Manager (Media & Promotions)
Corporate Communications
PSA Corporation Ltd
Mobile: 9730 4783
Email: shlee@psa.com.sg
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