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The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) signed an agreement with Overseas Coastal Area Development Institute (OCADI) of Japan recently to obtain consultancy services for the procurement of a new computer system for the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT). The new computer system will be purchased under the New North Pier (NNP) development project funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) under the Loan No. SL-P46 and 1,500 million yen (Rs. 1,200 billion) has been set apart for the replacement of the JCT computer system, the SLPA said in a press statement.

The new computer system, equipped with modern technologies will improve the quality and the efficiency of container handling operations. A communication superhighway has been proposed for implementation with the system.

Coupled with this satellite communication architecture with DGPS facilities are in the offing with new features such as automatic location and detection of containers. Expert systems and Artificial Intelligence will be embedded in decision support systems to enhance the decision making process of the top management. EDI systems and web-enabled user interfaces would improve the quality and the availability of services to the clientele. Gate operations will be fully automated and yard planning, yard operations and vessel planning will be implemented with web-enabled EDI systems.

Payment gateways with Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) applications would be soon in place to relieve congestions at payment points. Banks, Sri Lanka Customs, BOI, Shipping Agents will be inter-linked via an extranet and Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are in the pipeline to assure the port users high security and strict confidentiality of information, according to the statement.

The SLPA considers IT as a major underpinning for organisational growth and feels that new information systems can be powerful instruments for organisational change, enabling organisations to redesign their structures, scope, power relationships, work flows, products and services for the ultimate objective of competitive advantage.

The SLPA believes that state-of-the-art information systems are a must to establish itself as a major player in the most thriving container handling business.

With the implementation of the new computer system, the SLPA will be on par with any world-class port in any part of the world and will be technologically mature enough to compete against them with relative ease.

The SLPA was one of the pioneers to introduce computers to its operations in mid 80s and still ranks as one of the largest computer installations in Sri Lanka.

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