The ‘new normal’ of terminal operations favors Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) that capitalize on web-based technology, especially in looking at a post-Covid-19 world.

An Internet-enabled TOS like OPUS Terminal M facilitates terminals to shift away from the traditional, on-site hosted environment to cloud-based, SaaS offering. In so doing, terminals can spread out their IT expenditure and concentrate the investments towards the infrastructural assets needed for terminal operations. Furthermore, by unlocking the on-site constraint, terminals can now optimize on managing multiple sites via a single remote control center, lessening the reliance on rostering physical personnel presence to yield greater operational productivity & efficiency. The pandemic has been a timely awakening to terminals, and a new paradigm mindset is needed towards how a TOS and a terminal can be operated.

OPUS Terminal M is a true multipurpose TOS that can handle all types of cargo operations ? from containers to general cargo, bulk (solid and liquid) to RORO. The TOS can support multiple terminals in one license, where each terminal can operate independently. OPUS Terminal M can also be configured for seaports, river ports and inland terminals as well.

With 3D visualization, OPUS Terminal M allows terminals to view their yard situation from various angles and run filters to group containers and cargo according to pre-set criteria.

The OPUS Terminal M comes with an Advanced Vessel Planning (AVP) feature for container vessels ? for optimising load/discharge plans, automating stowage planning, and maximising quay cranes deployment and cargo handling productivity. Vessel planners have the option to prepare several stowage plans for a single vessel after which a built-in evaluator can be used to identify which plan pattern can result in the most efficient operations.

Other features of the integrated terminal operating solution include truck pooling to optimise truck assignments by considering the distance, waiting time, RTG workload and job priorities, a built-in gate appointment system, and an EDI translator with Excel upload capability.

OPUS Terminal M is able to support all non-containerized cargo types, including associated vessel definitions and cargo storage options. Work sequences for bulk vessels can be defined in detail, including the setup of gangs with required equipment and human resources. Timesheets can be made available on tablets, resulting in real-time updates to vessel operations.

Cargo storage can be easily set up, including open yards, warehouses, tanks and silos. OPUS Terminal M can interface with the SCADA systems of bulk handling systems to get real-time information on cargo flow and tank utilization.

OPUS Terminal M’s rail functionality is evolving to allow for the planning of discharge and loading of cargo to and from rail cars.

Another CyberLogitec’s product, Eagle Eye, is a data visualisation and IoT platform that can work with any TOS.

Eagle Eye provides real-time assets monitoring, tracking and control, with its full-fledged Internet of Things (IoT) platform that supports varied RTLS (real-time location system) protocols such as DGPS, UWB and RFID.

Users can benefit from automated operations, optimised job-stepping and process handover, as well as auto-capture and analysis of real-time location and movement of terminal equipment and assets to enable real-time analysis of operational bottlenecks and resources availability.

The Eagle Eye is also fully compatible by integration with autonomous vehicles and equipment, with full 2D and 3D visualisation (digital twin) to provide virtual terminal visibility without the line-of-sight limitations of CCTVs.

The safety and risk management via personnel and equipment metrics are in place to detect risks of collisions, straying out of zone, equipment breakdowns, and so forth.

(This article was first published on Seatrade Maritime News)