OnePort team members (from left) Vincent Elfring, product development manager; Jennifer Wong, marketing manager; Andrew Batchelor, advisor; and Ross Amer, IT project manager, celebrate the opening

The platform, OnePort, is an information exchange for the port community. Hong Kong International Terminals, Modern Terminals and Cosco-HIT (Hong Kong) are the three main partners in the initiative. Together, they account for nearly 90 per cent of throughput at the port.

Users of the service include shippers, freight forwarders, third-party logistics providers, shipping lines, container terminals, depot operators and trucking companies. It also has links with government authorities such as Tradelink Electronic Commerce (Tradelink), which will take a 10 per cent stake in the venture.

OnePort advisor Andrew Batchelor said that by providing a common platform for message exchange, OnePort will link up the various port users.
 
"Our services will save time and improve data quality," he said, adding that benefits can vary according to different companies' usage. "For example, SMEs have different needs than Fortune 500 companies. OnePort will provide a means of communication and a value proposition for all users large and small. We see tangible benefits for all."

Taking the leading role

Mr Batchelor said shareholders took the lead by facilitating improvements to the port's business efficiency. This will result in a sustainable competitive advantage, building on Hong Kong's role as a leading maritime centre for the region.

"In the Pearl River Delta (PRD) there are examples of logistics parks, however no OnePort-type initiatives that are 'PRD wide' or even city wide are currently underway.  In this sense, OnePort has taken a lead for Hong Kong."

He notes that the mandate was to create efficiency in the whole port community.

The cost savings are expected to be significant, Mr Batchelor adds. For example, gathering information electronically could more than halve the cost of delivering the container terminal gate receipts.

Another example involves the Advanced Customs Document Service.

"Since February 2 this year, carriers have filled the void by employing many data entry clerks," he explained. "To recover costs they are imposing processing charges of HK$195 (US$25) per Bill of Lading (BOL).  Using OnePort's service the cost of transmitting BOLs to US Customs will be less than HK$8 (US$1).''

As for charges, Mr Batchelor says fees will be mostly transaction-based, and subscription fees for some services will be low. "Charges are based on the principle of sharing the benefit of the efficiency gain. Most users are willing to pay, say, HK$15 (US$2) to save HK$30 (US$4).''

The first service, Advanced Customs Documents Service, is now being tested with US Customs.

Related link:
OnePort www.oneport.com