By collaborating closely with terminals on one of the strings between Asia and Europe, Maersk Line has reduced the time each vessel stays in the port. Next year, the project which is called “Terminal Partnering” will go global.

Since June, Maersk Line has been working with a multitude of different terminal operators, including Hutchinson Ports Holdings, Modern Terminals Limited and APM Terminals to reduce the time that each vessel stays in ports on the route between Asia and Europe. In many ports, the project has so far reduced total port time required by up to 15%, but the ambition remains to reach 30%.

“We look at all aspects of a vessel call”, says Steen Knudsen, who is heading the project under Maersk Line’s On-time Delivery Leap.

“It is not about just adding terminal resources to our vessels; we also focus highly on vessel preparedness and the entire port stay from arrival at the pilot station to dropping off the pilot on our way to the next port. The fleet has been very cooperative in assisting to realise some time savings potential,” he explains.

Cooperating for more efficiency
The project allows not only Maersk Line to increase reliability by reducing the time in ports. It also helps terminals to improve efficiency. One example is to truly understand the root causes of efficiency loss in the yard crane operation.

“We are able to identify improvement areas in both the way Maersk Line manages the flow of data and the way that the yard equipment is physically operated within the terminal facilities. We have witnessed improvements from a starting point of 70% effectiveness to 90% and above in the terminals”, says Andy Lane, Terminal Engagement Leader in Asia.
For APM Terminals, the project has helped optimise the space on terminals and drive more business through the existing capacity.

“The exciting thing is that terminals and Maersk Line are now working closely together on the hand-over processes with both parties being willing to change in sync to optimise both sides, says Key Client Director Lars Koch-Soelyst who adds that APM Terminals will apply the learnings to other terminals before they become formally involved in the project.

Going global
The project will go global through 2011 with Maersk Line rolling out across all terminals in the main liner network maintaining the target to reduce the time of port stays by 30%. According to Steen Knudsen, the project will have far-reaching impacts on the business.

“By getting vessels out of the port earlier, we’ll be able to reduce bunker consumption. Other benefits are that we can also create opportunities to add extra port calls to — or even take a vessel out of — a rotation,” he says.

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