Containerchain has launched its VBS product Notifications at Port of Tauranga’s Sulphur Point seaport terminal in New Zealand. This is the first of several major projects with Port of Tauranga and Ports of Auckland via their joint venture data management entity, Port Connect.

Containerchain, a WiseTech Global group company and a creator of cloud-based software solutions for optimising the container shipping and landside container logistics industry, has continued its expansion into the seaport terminal Vehicle Booking System (VBS) market segment. Containerchain’s Notifications and eGate products have now been implemented at the Port of Tauranga’s Sulphur Point Seaport Terminal in New Zealand, marking the first time Containerchain’s VBS has been chosen to manage gate movements, inclusive of automated gate-in functionality at a seaport container terminal. This follows significant product expansion work to manage the unique needs of seaport facilities.

The sulphur point project is the first of several secured within the New Zealand market, off the back of a strategic collaboration with port operators Port of Tauranga and Ports of Auckland, via their joint venture data management entity, PortConnect. Building on its significant presence in the land-side empty container depot sector, Containerchain’s strategic collaboration with the terminal sector in New Zealand promises to vastly improve the efficiency managing inland and sea terminals mass movements of containers through its ports.

Martyn McColgan, Terminal Operations Manager at Port of Tauranga said: “We’ve watched with interest the efficiency gains that Containerchain’s Notifications system has delivered for the empty depot sector in New Zealand and our own intermodal rail facility at MetroPort. It made sense for us to find out if it could deliver the same for our major seaport terminal at Sulphur Point. Containerchain worked closely with us to tailor the technology to provide maximum benefit to the terminal and road transport operators, with port-specific functionality such as e-gate, bulk runs, bills of lading, EDO’s, and integration with our Navis TOS product development. The onsite implementation proceeded remarkably smoothly, we have been up and running with Notifications since July and are already seeing improvements in our throughput and gate turnaround times.”

Containerchain Managing Director, Chris Collins calls the Port of Tauranga implementation a major milestone in the company’s expansion into the seaport terminal segment. “This moment represents around two years of engagement and collaboration with Port of Tauranga, to deliver a solution that leveraged the best of our existing technology with the added functionality needed to seamlessly handle the specific needs of a seaport terminal globally. We’re thrilled with the result and look forward to further expansion across New Zealand with the support of Port of Tauranga, Ports of Auckland and PortConnect under our long-term strategic business arrangement.”