Terminal Management System at JCT/ECT of SLPA upgraded to N4

Staff who worked to establish the N4 software system at the JCT and ECT of SLPA (seated from left): SLPA Senior Manager (Container Operations) W.S.P. Perera, Deputy Chief Manager (Information Systems) Lalindra Hewagajaman, Chief Engineer (Electrical and Electronic Actg.) R.A. Rupasinghe, Director (Operations) Lal Weerasinghe, Chief Manager (Container Operations) C.J. Weerawickrama, Deputy Chief Manager (Container Operations) L.S.P. Chandana, and Engineer (Electrical) Roshan Rathnayake. Others present include Executive Engineering staff of Operations Division, Information Systems Division and Electrical Engineering Division who assisted to make the project a success 

The Navis Sparcs/Express version 3.7 being used as the Terminal Management System (TMS) at JCT/ECT of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) at present, has been upgraded to N4 from 29 April, in order to compete with national competitors as well as international competitors keeping in line with the latest developments in the port industry.

The state-owned JCT that competitively operates with SAGT and CICT at the Port of Colombo is one of the pioneers and oldest container operating terminals in the region.

The subject upgrade has been a necessity as the new modified inclusions in these TMSs are being already used in other operating terminals world-wide and hence, there was a dire need in having a compatible operating system in SLPA as well in order to provide a world-class service qualitatively and in an effective and efficient manner.

The establishment of N4 software at the JCT/ECT of SLPA will further enable efficient yard and ship planning and gate control that would elevate the SLPA’s operational productivity. The Position Detection System (PDS) and the Yard Automation that can be enacted with the N4 software will also be introduced at the JCT/ECT in near future. Hence, this system will accurately locate all TEUs being operated at the terminal.

This new TMS N4, would enhance the capabilities of interactions between the Cargo Management System (CMS) improving the efficiency in clearing and export of local cargo facilitating the shippers and exporters through Community Access Portal (CAP). 

The Prime Route option in N4 version will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of all operational equipment being operated under the system. It will also increase the productivity levels of the Prime Movers operated between quay and yard operations of the terminal. The process directly effects towards the entire productivity of the terminal. 

Expressing views of the latest upgrade, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman General Daya Ratnayake says that the establishment of the latest N4 system at the JCT/ECT is a greater achievement especially in view of extending an efficient, effective, speedier and productive service to all domestic and international clients at SLPA. He also thanked all staff of the Operations, Information Systems and Electrical and Electronics Engineering and other divisions who immensely assisted to make the N4 implementation a success with least difficulty on their stakeholders with a recorded minimum duration for the transmigration compared to the same with other ports in the regions.