A vessel recently spent almost 12 days at anchor off Lagos before reaching its berth. The estimated loss in vessel earning capacity was about $250,000 for that single call. For a region working to make its ports more competitive, reduce logistics costs and attract more trade, this is not simply a shipping problem; it is a coordination problem.
Consider what is happening in Rotterdam. Through its PortXchange Synchroniser platform, the Port of Rotterdam enables shipping lines, agents, terminals and the port authority to share information on vessel arrivals, berth availability, tug and pilot arrangements and terminal readiness. Vessels can then adjust their speed and arrival time to coincide with when the port is ready to receive them. The port authority reports that the platform supports around 30,000 vessel calls annually and has reduced waiting time by an average of 20 percent.
The principle is straightforward. Instead of sailing at full speed to a port and then waiting at anchor because the berth or supporting services are not ready, the vessel adjusts its arrival based on information shared across the port ecosystem. The result can be less anchorage time, better berth utilisation, less channel congestion, more predictable vessel movements and potentially lower fuel consumption and emissions.
