2 Graphical System (TOPX)

2.1 Vessel Operation

2.1.1 Overview

The Vessel operation is highly automated and encompasses several innovative modules which are brought together to make the working of a vessel a smooth and precise process, as the points of work for the discharge and loading of a vessel can be accurately sequenced and scheduled. There are also many features which allow the vessel scheduler/supervisor to modify a vessel's work flow, to handle any exceptions which may occur, in an effort to maintain the scheduled work time frame.

The modules are the Vessel Editor tool which is easy to use and allows a user to build a very accurate graphical vessel profile which incorporates every minute detail of a vessel’s bay and cell configuration. The Berth Planning module allows the user to build accurate berthing schedules for many days in advance and allows the vessel management team to easily resolve conflicts in the schedule. The Quay crane scheduling and modeling tool also allows the user to model several work scenarios and then activate the one that is the best fit for working the vessel. Because of the efficient processing of EDI messages and the transparent movement of the information, accurate vessel discharge and loading lists are easily created and activated with a minimum of human involvement, although any of these lists can be easily modified in an emergency situation.

Realtime statistics of a vessel's operations are also available to be monitored by the terminal management and the vessel supervisor/planner, from any workstation in the terminal. This allows them to make quick decisions and change the parameters of the system when problems arise, to maintain a high rate of container moves for a vessel's operation, in an effort to meet a vessel's deadlines.

2.1 Vessel Operation

2.1.2 Key Benefit

The vessel editor, which is similar to a drawing tool, enables a user to quickly draw up or modify a vessel's profile. This allows a user to draw an accurate representation of the vessel, including all the stowage cells and each cell’s attributes, such as reefer details, cell weight stacking rules, size restrictions, hazardous restrictions etc. The automatic vessel planning process works with this highly accurate vessel profile for the automatic planning of containers from and to the vessel.

Berth planning allows the vessel planners to visualize the berthing requirements for the scheduled vessels in the short term so that any clashes of vessels at the quay can be resolved quickly.

Quay crane modeling allows the vessel planners to view all the work instructions for a vessel and model the various crane usage scenarios to establish which combination works best for the vessel. When the ideal scenario is selected it is then automatically implemented by the system without any human intervention. The user can try many quay crane models then automatically instigate the best one with the click of a mouse and without having to remember the intimate details of the many models applied.

The berth planning, quay crane modeling, integrated with the realtime working of the vessel, allows the vessel planners to see clashes between vessels being worked at the quay and future arrivals. When a clash is evident, they can change the work flow and dynamically modify the allocation of quay cranes, yard equipment and work instructions for a vessel so that vessel schedule deadlines can still be met. These modifications are automatically processed by the system and work instructions are automatically redirected to match the entered requirements.

In this way, large numbers of planned work instructions for many vessels are automatically reorganized without the need for manual replanning or manipulation of work instructions. The system efficiently reorganizes the work instructions and assigns them to the equipment without any loss of 'tempo' in the terminal.

2.1 Vessel Operation

2.1.3 Feature Summary

• Building ship profiles graphically – Vessel Editor
• Berth planning and scheduling
• Crane modeling
• Automatic/manual vessel working scheduling
• Import/export EDI files
• Crane allocation and vessel crane working schedule
• Setting up vessel routing, vessel services and sub services
• Setting up vessel references and creating a new vessel
• Importing BAPLIE and MOVINS data
• Correcting imported data including manually entering BAPLIE and MOVINS data
• Reviewing vessel profile, recap report, discharge list, load/discharge detail summary
• Printing load list
• Changing discharge port for arriving containers for discharge at the home port
• Print discharge list
• Vessel planning – creating WQ's, planned moves, pre-planned Information
• Planning from the load list
• Plan from yard stacks
• Planning from other container lists, re-stow WQ's
• Undoing planned moves
• Planning re-stowed containers
• Planning trans-shipments
• Re-sequencing work instructions
• Planning for other miscellaneous parameters – below deck height limit, above deck weight limit, over-stow, over dimension, hazardous, reefer, bay and slot stowage rules
• Export BAPLIE and MOVINS Data
• Print sequence sheets in list and stowage plan format
• Printing vessel profiles and other related reports

And many more...