Marine Terminal Operating Systems

Abstract

Operating inefficiency begets the opportunity for technology to provide cost‐effective fixes. That, in a nutshell, is the compelling case that vendors of terminal operating system (TOS) software are making to managers of marine terminals, a critical chokepoint in the transportation networks. A TOS is a digital system that can integrate communication across a marine terminal – from vessel to gate and enhance operational efficiency. TOS vendors have a receptive audience because competing terminal managers yearn for a cost‐effective “solution” to increase their efficiency, which should translate into increased revenue and profit. The challenge is magnified because cargo handling operations at the marine terminal address the overlapping and sometimes conflicting interests of a myriad of players: carriers, shippers, consignees, and their agents. This chapter puts into context the evolution of delay‐related challenges marine terminals face and how the niche market software can help mitigate them. The chapter also highlights key vendors, issues plaguing the adoption of a TOS, and the evolution of TOS in the Industry 4.0 era.