Associated British Ports (ABP) is pleased to announce the Port of Southampton’s new Automotive Terminal Operating System is now operational.
Inventory linking is a digital system that enables all sections of the maritime industry to facilitate the movement of cargo through a port and will be a requirement for all imports from 2022. Earlier this year, Southampton became the first port in the country to announce a private 5G network, which means inventory linking can take place with superior connectivity and reduced latency.
Southampton is the only port in the country to offer private 5G and a state-of-the-art Automotive Terminal Operating System. In August, Southampton launched its Automotive Vehicle Terminal Operating System, giving manufacturers real-time information on all vehicles overseen by ABP stevedores which pass through the port, as well as full synchronisation to HMRC’s inventory linking system.
In a typical year the Port of Southampton will handle some 900,000 new vehicles, making it the UK’s top automotive handling port. By digitally tracking their vehicles throughout their journey, motor companies have up-to-the-minute information at their fingertips about the condition, location and destination of each vehicle. All this is provided via a dedicated customer portal. Synchronisation to the government’s inventory linking system means less revenue loss for HMRC. The Automotive Terminal Operating System has been delivered in partnership with INFORM.
Craig Barbour, General Manager of Landside Operations for ABP’s Southampton Region says:
“The Port of Southampton is a one-stop-store for OEMs and shipping lines, with excellent access to the global marketplace.
“These developments are great news for those who rely on ABP every day to get their goods from A to B, and for those looking to navigate the requirements of the post-Brexit landscape efficiently.”
The private 5G network in place at the Port of Southampton means it can offer a range of digital services to customers, from network slicing to give customers their own dedicated network space, to connecting in-car digital services at the port. The latest 5G enabled hand-held devices are used by ABP to process vehicles swiftly through the port to their destination.
Paul Reeves, Head of Commercial for ABP Southampton says:
“This comprehensive and unprecedented package available to our automotive partners reinforces Southampton’s position as an innovator, anticipating and responding to customer needs.
“We are looking forward to rolling out these services with our partners, helping to bring even greater efficiencies to the supply chain.”
