Australia-based port logistics solutions provider, 1-Stop Connections, and Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) have sealed a three-year alliance partnership that will see the two organisations working closely to promote vital developments in container logistics information exchange, visibility and management across Australia.
CTAA is a strong alliance of companies engaged in the container logistics sector across Australia and CTAA's companies are responsible for the landside movements of the majority of international shipping containers to and from Australia’s capital city container ports.
Newly appointed CEO of 1-Stop, Sam Askin, commented that “1-Stop has an exciting array of product improvements and new technology solutions in the pipeline supporting the operational interfaces between container terminals, intermodal facilities, empty container depots and transport company operations.”
CTAA Director, Neil Chambers said that “the long-term partnership with 1-Stop will allow us to engage closely with our Alliance companies and more broadly across all stakeholders on how 1-Stop’s technology innovations can evolve to make container logistics chain operations more productive and efficient.”
Additionally, on 31 January, 1-Stop Connections announced the extension of the agreement with New Zealand's Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) after the successful implementation of the 1-Stop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) which has contributed to the port’s growth and created valuable efficiency gains.
The new agreement will help LPC as it nears the completion of the first stage of its expansion. The Eastern Development will be finished next year and increase the port’s total capacity from 530,000 TEU annually to 620,000 TEU.
Sean Bradley, head of landside and inland ports at LPC believes the VBS is a key part of their overall operation.
As the largest port in the South Island of New Zealand, Lyttelton handles around 50% of the volume that moves through the region, including 70% of imports.
“From my experience, both here and in Australia, I think it’s crucial to any operation that they have a vehicle booking system because ultimately your shipping and your berth productivity is only going to be as good as your landside operation,” commented Bradley.
The port is using the VBS to allocate labour at the terminal, forecast ship capacity per hour and provide visibility of movement through the depot.
Bradley said extending the agreement with 1-Stop will allow them to capitalise on efficiency gains and continue to provide more visibility for the landside operation within the yard, and the ship operations as well.
Chris Harnett, chief customer officer at 1-Stop Connections believes the new agreement is an "exciting step forward for the partnership", particularly because LPC was the first company to use 1-Stop’s VBS solution to capture the full container life cycle from terminal to container park and beyond.
“The continuation of the partnership is the next logical step to continue to deliver a technology solution that extends into all areas of the supply chain but more importantly create efficiencies for all parties,” noted Harnett.
