Online cargo handling

Northport, situated at the mouth of Whangarei Harbour on North Island, has signed up to PortConnect’s online cargo handling platform and is also creating an additional four hectares of paved and lit area, along with investing in new mobile harbour cranes, reach stackers, dock-trucks and MAFI trailers.

The first step in Northport’s adoption of the PortConnect platform is the initial roll-out of the Clear Container module and support for automated Trade Single Window messaging. ““This will definitely make things easier for shipping lines using the Upper North Island ports and is another small step towards Northport’s vision of a geographically-astute, three-port supply-chain strategy for the region,” said the port’s commercial manager, David Finchett.

By Q2 2022 shipping lines will be able to log in to PortConnect and submit shipping line clearances for containers inbound to Northport through the Clear Container service, provided to shipping lines free of charge. There are no changes required for TSW users.

PortConnect general manager Dan Cowie said the partnership will assist with reducing manual handling and intervention of container data. “Providing Trade Single Window and Clear Container services supports Northport in obtaining accurate and timely container clearances. This will enable the port to uphold Customs and MPI regulations and reduce delays for their customers uplifting containers,” he said.

PortConnect is also used by Ports of Auckland, Port of Tauranga, Lyttelton Port Company and Timaru Container Terminal.