Port Community System to Speed up Trans-Shipment Processes

Persons who do business at the ports can expect faster turnaround time for trans-shipment procedures through implementation of the Port Community System (PCS), now under way.

Director of the PCS Operator, Dwain Powell, said completion of trans-shipment activity should be reduced to approximately 75 minutes.

“Our feasibility studies have also shown that with the paper-based system, shipping agents will utilise, on average, approximately 630 minutes to complete a trans-shipment activity,” he said.

This includes submission of the manifest to Customs, creation of a Trans-shipment Shipping Bill (TSB), and export manifest and document submission to the terminal operator.

Mr. Powell was speaking at the monthly meeting of the Lions Club of Kingston at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on September 7.

The PCS is a single, neutral and open electronic platform that enables the secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders in the port community.

It acts as a single window that manages all trade, logistics and business processes. The intended users of the PCS include shipping lines, terminal contractors, shipping agents, haulage contractors, terminal operators, importers and exporters.

Through the PCS, stakeholders will have 24-hour access with secure, real-time processing and distribution of information with tracking, tracing and surveillance of cargo capabilities.

Mr. Powell said this will result in a productivity gain of 88 per cent. “This will, therefore, allow Jamaica to market itself as an efficient destination for cargo, as shipping agents will always advise that there are no ships that make money staying in port; they need to be sailing on time, with all of their scheduled cargo on board,” he said.

He said a key feature of the PCS is the electronic integration of all the key stakeholders within the port community so that information may be transmitted in real time.

“This will provide transparency along the logistics chain but will also aid in improving the time to import, export and trans-ship cargo. Our aim is to improve, by 50 per cent, the time to import cargo by December 2017,” he added.

Mr. Powell informed that more than 140 persons have been trained on how to use the system.

The PCS, which was officially launched in July, is a project of the Port Authority of Jamaica through partnership with the Jamaica Customs Agency and the Shipping Association of Jamaica.

Mr. Powell said the PCS is to be fully integrated with the ASYCUDA World System, which is being implemented by Jamaica Customs to automate its processes and procedures in order to improve operations and to simplify and accelerate customs clearance procedures.

He said the seamless integration of the PCS and the ASYCUDA will create a streamlined and efficient operating platform for the maritime community, which will automate port and logistics processes via a single electronic submission of date and provide the capacity to connect the transport and logistics chains.