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Chapter 4 Hardware, Software, and Mobile Systems
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container trucks are maintained. Another subsystem of CITOS Realizing the urgent need of managing the ever increasing
is the Gate Automation Subsystem which records the arrival of movement of ships, PSA has implemented CIMOS i.e. Computer
a container at the gate, lists its weight, and either assigns a loca- Integrated Marine Operation System. CIMOS tracks the move-
tion or directs delivery of containers, all within 45 seconds. The ment of ships in the Singapore Straits and port waters, and one
third subsystem of CITOS is the Ship Planning Subsystem which of its most important functions is to notify ships that are on colli-
manages the loading and unloading of containers. It positions sion paths with each other, so that the port operator can contact
the containers inside each vessel and allocates and sequences the ships by radio to warn them to change their course. CIMOS
cranes for unloading and loading. has a Vessel Traffic Information Subsystem, which monitors the
Another major concern in a port is the turnaround time of Singapore Straits and port waters using five remote radars. All
ships, which must be as quick as possible so as to manage the of this information is stored in a database linked to PORTNET
huge volume of incoming ships. Here again PSA has imple- through which shippers can locate information about specific
mented information system to manage the turnaround time. ships.
The Yard Planning Expert Subsystem of CITOS sorts containers
for the optimum utilization of yard space, which eventually helps DisCussion Questions
to save time when containers are being unloaded or loaded. The
Resource Allocation Subsystem of CITOS manages the huge 4-12. How is PSA taking the help of information system in or-
operational staff of the Port of Singapore Authority. It allocates der to manage the containers at the Port of Singapore?
duties to operational staff and forecasts the exact requirements 4-13. Discuss the application of the information system in
of staff for managing operations. It also produces a deployment reducing the turnaround time of ships at the Port of
plan for operations to be executed. Changes in the resource Singapore.
requirements for crane equipment are detected instantaneously
and adjusted accordingly in the deployment plan during the 4-14. How is information system being applied to maintain
deployment process. coordination between PSA and shipping companies at
Not resting on its laurels, PSA is constantly finding avenues the Port of Sinagpore?
where it can implement information systems and yet another 4-15. How is CIMOS helping PSA to manage the movement
application of information system at PSA is PORTNET. PORT- of ships at port of Singapore?
NET is an EDI facility specifically designed for effective coordi-
nation between the Port of Singapore Authority and shipping 4-16. Visit the website (https://www.singaporepsa.com/) and
companies. Shipping companies send a message through the make a note of other services provided by of Port of
system to the Port of Singapore Authority before the arrival of a Singapore.
ship in Singapore. The company clearly indicates the time/date 4-17. As one of the main job at PSA is the management of
of arrival and number of containers on board, and electronically ships in the proper manner, visit your nearby parking
applies for required berth spaces. This is a 24 × 7 electronic data facility and try to find out about the hardware being put
interchange system which works in tandem with CITOS. The in practice to manage the vehicles.
application received from PORTNET is transferred to CITOS and
the whole network handles the scheduling of the unloading and 4-18. Since the concept of Augmented Reality (AR) has been
loading of containers. discussed in this chapter, do you think that AR can help
PSA in managing its activities at the port.