Saab delivers Port Management Information System to the Port of Townsville

The Port of Townsville, which operates the Ports of Townsville and Lucinda in northern Australia, has taken an important step forward in improving the port experience for their customers. Saab’s flagship Port Management Information System (PMIS) PortControl has been delivered, on-time and within budget.

The delivery includes software for management of ship visits, cargo movements and associated billing. However, what makes this particular PMIS project stand out is Townsville Port’s newly developed interface to Maritime Safety Queensland’s (MSQ) QSHIPS shipping system.

Townsville Port’s Manager Operations, Mark Jenkins said the updated software system will improve planning, control and execution of major port operations and related business processes, including vessel calls, cargo management, billing and statistical reporting.

``Gone are the days of when shipping agents waste their valuable time, double handling their shipping information. The Port required an information system that could solve this long-time inconvenience,’’ he said.

``One of the key positive features of Saab’s system is that it is a single source of accurate information available on a single integrated and standardised platform.’’   

Mr Jenkins added that whilst MSQ’s live data feed from QSHIPS had long been available to all ports in  Queensland, Townsville Port had not been able to harness the benefits due to the outdated legacy system.

``The full integration of PortControl PMIS into the operation of the Townsville Port in 2020 is increasing the speed and efficiency of data exchange for the benefit of all parties,”  Mr Jenkins said.