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Major freight interests join in partnership.
NETHERLANDS – The Port of Rotterdam Authority has launched its new company, PortXchange Products, which will focus on offering the digital shipping app, Pronto, to ports around the world over the next few years. Pronto is a joint platform that can be used by shipping companies, agents, terminals, port authorities and other maritime service providers, intended to enable them to optimally plan, execute and monitor all activities during a port call based on the exchange of standardised data.
In addition, Pronto’s purpose is to enable just-in-time sailing, which the Port of Rotterdam claims help reduce carbon emissions. The establishment of a separate company will look to enable partnerships with a variety of global players, the first of which belongs to Shell International Trading and Shipping and AP Möller-Maersk. PortXchange will initially offer Pronto to several ports outside the Netherlands. Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority, commented:
“By making our application available to ports across the world we can optimise the potential of digital solutions. The more ports use smart solutions, the more valuable these become. The establishment of a separate company for Pronto’s global roll out is an excellent example of this approach.
“Pronto will be offered in several ports in Europe and the US before the end of the year. The ambition for the years ahead is to make Pronto available to ports worldwide. Partnerships with major international players like Shell and Maersk play a crucial part in making Pronto a global success.”
The port authority says that the launch of PortXchange provides a platform to create new strategic partnerships with ports, shipping companies and terminals, geared towards implementing smart digital solutions like Pronto in ports worldwide. This in turn it says contributes to the ambition of Port of Rotterdam to become the world’s smartest port.
Trust between parties for the free exchange of data is vital to the successful introduction of Pronto in other ports. The establishment of a separate company the Port says evidences the solution’s neutrality and independence, and improves cooperation between all parties. Kent Stig Hagbarth, Head of Operations Execution at AP Möller-Maersk, said:
“We see a significant need and opportunity to improve the collaboration, communication, and single data usage amongst port participants for optimised sailing and port calls for vessels. The aim of the Pronto platform, to enable just in time arrival and optimise the port stay of our vessels, not only enables us to increase schedule reliability to the benefit of our customers but also to achieve our goal of reducing our CO2 emissions.” Read more
Source: HANDY SHIPPING GUIDE
