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Container Terminal Management System (CTMS)

From the name alone, it is clear that this is an information system that manages and optimizes the
processes and resources of a container terminal such as the container, container handling equipment,
trucks and human resources. The main core of the CTMS consists of SPARCS N4 (Synchronous Planning
and Real Time Control System) suite, which is an off the shelf product developed by ZES. SPARCS N4 is a
fully integrated solution from the gate to the yard to the vessel and able to support most of the CPA’s
(Chittagong Port Authority) container operations. To integrate even more seamlessly with the CPA’s
operations, some customization will be required and that will be done through the sub-modules in
addition to the SPARCS N4.

GOAL

 Easier to plan the movement of the trailers will increase the productivity of Depot operators.
 Turnaround rate is expected to decrease from 2.4 days to just 1 day. This in return will reduce
the vessel cost as ships will be spending less time on the port.
 Quicker delivery, loading /discharging lead to an efficient port functioning.
 Fewer paper documentation and manual interpretation will be required as most will be
digitalized.
 Submission of all documents such as information of containers and payment of all bills will be
done online thus reducing physical mobility.
 Proper utilization of yard as containers will be stacked as per geographical location.
 Optimize utilization of CHE due to planned usage and reduce the waiting time of equipment and
hence increase productivity.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives for our project are as follows:

 It makes management and operations much faster than manual methods, reducing container lift
and vessel turnaround times.
 It is a smart system. Hence it provides comprehensive and flexible reporting in real time for
peerless decision support.
 It is a powerful and seamless system which integrates securely, easily and cleanly with all third
party business management/ ERP/ legal systems and advanced gate technologies such as OCR.
 The system is web-enabled which has a built in browser option, delivering controlled user access
and system functionality from any internet connected computer for maximum flexibility and
control.
 The entire system improves profitability, cuts cost, increases productivity, eradicates errors and
optimizes resources to future-proof cargo handling business for high performers.
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BACKGROUND

Bangladesh is situated in the north-west part of the Bay of Bengal and a population rich nation. It’s
blessed with a vast sea area which is 1.5 times larger than the land area. Around 36,000 sq. km areas are
situated near the coastal area which accounted for the 25% of the country’s total land mass. There are
more than 200 rivers are in the country with an area of 22,155 sq. km which is almost 11% of the total
land area. So, maritime sector is a core of the Bangladesh economic progress.

Port of Chittagong is considered the heart of Bangladesh economy being the only major sea port of the
nation (Goldman Sach, 2007). In the year 2014-15 port of Chittagong has handled over 1.8 million TEU
containerized cargo. The port has seen a container traffic growth of 14% in the recent years against the
nation’s average 6% GDP growth and expected to be topped up by 2018.
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Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) handles more than 2.6 trillion TEUs of containers and for that much
handling management and operation manually will be expensive and also inefficient. Implementation of
CTMS can help CPA utilize all that effectively and efficiently. Automation of the Bangladeshi shipping
industry is expected to double container capacity of all ports, and help them stand out in a globally
competitive marketplace.

Some statistics to show the importance of trade growth and port management on GDP are given as
follows:
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COMPONENTS

The various components for CTMS are explained as below:

Intermodal Yard: CTM can improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability by optimizing the
movement through the port and intermodal facilities and enhance container terminal’s planning.

 Port User Interface: Port user interface is for the internal port user, external stakeholders like
shipping agent, MLO, off dock etc.
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 Radio Data Terminal: This component manage data from narrowband handheld device at the
gate, in the yard, at the quay.
 Graphical Displays: After login and completion of initial activities, the user can explore the key
elements of the CTMS graphical interface.
 EDI communications: The EDI info can be uploaded in the CTMS system without any manual
intervention. This data can be used for planning and reporting generation for all shipping lines
and agents.
 Berth Management: This component checks the term uses (Geared vessel or non-geared vessel,
draught of the vessel) in CPA for a designated location where vessels berths are designated by
the management of a facility.
 Tidal Information: There is an option to upload and show predicted tide chart provided by
BIWTA.
 Container Handling Equipment Control: This component is a modular graphical planning and
control system for container handling that provides full control of the yard, vessel and rail
planning, including dispatch of container handling equipment and other works at the RDTs.
 Audit Trail: Audit trail for activities such as which user has done what and when.
 Bank Panel: This module will help shipping agents to pay their Vessel and Container Bill through
online which will help port to collect the revenue faster.
 MLO Panel: Through this component, MLO can trace their import/export container, empty
container, departure report and all types of container and vessel bill.
 Off Dock Panel: This module can trace the container and see their reports.
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DURATION

The initiative to set up the project of CTMS at Chittagong sea port, it being the country’s main seaport
was taken in the year 2005. Due to various reasons the authorities could not implement the decision
earlier. The fifth deadline for the launching of the project was on the 11th September in the year 2011.
The modern digitalized system of container handling begins experimentally on 11th October, Monday
when all necessary preparations such as development of infrastructures, installations of adequate
logistic supports was completed. The project started its full commission by the end of December taking a
total of about 6 years.

ACTIVITIES

The software has been provided by Navis which is based in the U.S. Navis has provided its CTMS
technology to majority portion of the globe. As for the components, ST Info of Singapore supplied the
necessary materials and devices for the project. Networking was handled by Psion Teklogis of Canada.
The project’s maintenance for a period of 5 years was taken up by the local software company named
DataSoft.

COST

The CTMS project established at the main port of Bangladesh namely Chittagong seaport is a project of
about 4.0 million euro. The CTMS project was implemented by the CPA at a cost of 380 million taka
which was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SETUP

This study includes the integration of container berth and yard simulation planning. We assume the
container terminal has berth and container yard (CY). It also includes quay cranes (QCs), yard trucks
(YTs) and transfer cranes (TC). The container terminal is represented as a simulation model and a
simplified version is shown as an optimization model. We start by performing several simulation runs in
order to get average values of the parameters which are then fed into the optimization model. After
solving the optimization model, the result is transformed into decision rules that are used in the
simulation model. Most container terminal systems are sufficiently complex to warrant simulation
analysis to determine systems performance. The Arena software (Arena 12.0) has been used in this
paper.
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INTEGRATION OF BERTH AND CY SIMULATION

To develop an integrated simulation model linking berth and CY, the following processes are performed:
classification of port type according to the features of each port; select the port type on the initial
screen; initial figures can be changed, if necessary; berth simulation performance by port type (initial
data production); the throughput derived from berth simulation is linked to the CY simulation; CY
simulation is to be performed for one month in order to set up an initial environment; based on the
annual distribution of input/output of containers and storage period distribution, both of which are
derived from CY simulation, CY occupancy is to be calculated; when the optimal CY occupancy reaches
60 % on the basis of derived CY occupancy, the handling volume is to be calculated; and the sensitivity
analysis of major factors is to produce diverse outputs.

FEASIBILITY

The site is adjacent to several key roadways; has good highway access; is adjacent to an active rail line
that serves other industrial users. It has adjacent properties which can be incorporated with the
willingness of the owners for expansion and is near several other industrial sites as well as a nearby
industrial park. According to the City, the site has utility access and is comprised of mostly packed clean
river sand. In general, the site and the waterfront, as well as adjacent activities, have the right attributes
for the development of a river terminal and port district. It also has proper quipments like cranes,
tractor etc which makes it a more efficient system. It also is the hub of cargo ship in South East Asia so
most ships pass through here or deliver cargo in this port.
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REFERENCES

 Bangladesh opts for automation of CTMS for all ports. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.porttechnology.org/news/bangladesh_opts_for_automation_of_ctms_for_all_por
ts

 Lu, B., & Wang, S. (2016). Evaluation Modeling for Container Terminal. Container Port
Production and Management, 19-30. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-2428-3_3

 Wang, T., & Cullinane, K. (n.d.). The Efficiency of European Container Terminals and Implications
for Supply Chain Management. Port Management. doi:10.1057/9781137475770.0015
 https://www.saarcjt.com/news/bangladesh/ctms-tangle-chittagong-port
 https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2482245331.html
