DCSA STANDARDISES PORT CALL DEFINITIONS

Working in conjunction with the Internal Taskforce Port Call Optimization (ITPCO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), DCSA has provided interface standards for all 50 event timestamps that it defines in its port call data processes.

There are six main parts of the port call, DCSA explains. These comprise: berth arrival planning; pilot boarding place arrival and service planning, pilot boarding place and berth arrival execution, start of cargo operations and services, services and port departure planning and, finally, port departure execution.

By offering a consistent definition of all of these activities, shipping lines, ports, terminals and other service providers supporting port calls can now exchange data in a consistent, uniform manner and on an automatic data exchange basis.

The process also means that support can be given to digital port call planning, along with increased operational efficiency and optimal resource utilisation.

DCSA confirms that the new standards are currently being tested by a range of different parties involved in the port call process.

Phanthian Zuesongdham, Head of Division Port Process Solution, Hamburg Port Authority, who is involved in the trials, offered an insight into the benefits. “Achieving just-in-time port calls requires accurate, real-time communication between carriers, ports and terminals. DCSA digital standards are key to enabling this level of communication on a global scale.”

Thomas Bagge, CEO, DCSA, adds: “Customers of shipping services want visibility and predictability, having a complete set of standards for port calls is an important step towards improving the efficiency and accuracy of data exchange between all parties. By adopting DCSA standards for just-in-time port calls, operational vessel schedules and track & trace, the industry will see an emerging digital ecosystem where these activities turn into collaborative, datadriven, digital processes. Carriers, ports, terminals, service providers and customers of container shipping alike will gain efficiency, cargo visibility and cost savings.”

DCSA Port Call Data Definitions can be freely downloaded from the DCSA website.