The system, named German Ports, is a joint project between Dakosy in Hamburg and dbh Logistics in Bremen. The platform aims to standardise processes for container imports in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen and Wilhelmshaven.
Developed with Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, CMA CGM and Kühne+Nagel, German Ports has added functionality to return containers to alternate depots, and digital declaration of assignment to hand off containers to third parties.
Kühne+Nagel’s Fabian Gäbel said: “Even during the pilot phase, the option of executing releases while specifying an alternate return depot proved to be an indispensable component for our system integration. In order to further reduce unnecessary e-mail communications in the future, we very much welcome the fact that this latest step has been taken and that the empty container depot exchange function has been integrated into the German Ports platform."
The developers said that alternate return depot functionality will be available through German Ports via an EDI interface as well as in the web application.
On the declaration of assignment, Dirk Gladiator at Dakosy said: “Currently, this is transmitted by e-mail or by fax. Using German Ports, we can digitalize and standardize this process. With between 25 and 30 percent of transactions involving a declaration of assignment, we see great potential for this function."
DAKOSY and dbh also announced that from the second half of this year, German Ports will provide multi-site container and vessel information for Germany’s main North Sea ports.
“The container information service will centrally display the current loading and delivery data as well as the most important status information about the progress of the corresponding customs processes. This means that it is no longer necessary to switch between different portals for each separate port of transhipment. In the Vessel Information module, current call and departure data can be retrieved centrally via a single platform for Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven,” said the developers.
Pilot user of German Ports, Michael Schröder at Hapag-Lloyd said: "The import release process has always involved a great deal of manual work for shipping companies and forwarders due to the exchange of e-mails and PDF documents. The German Ports platform is an important step towards digitalizing and streamlining the process, and we have been involved in its development from the very start. We strongly welcome the multi-site cooperation between Dakosy and dbh, which ensures a uniform solution for the German seaports."
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