South Carolina Ports deploys Portchain to digitize berth planning, starting at the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal (HLT)

South Carolina Ports rolls out Portchain to digitalize berth planning and enhance collaboration

South Carolina Ports, a top 10 US container port known for its efficiently-run terminals and customer-focused operations, and Portchain, a provider of Artificial Intelligence solutions to optimize quayside operations for container terminals and carriers, announce a strategic collaboration to digitalize berth planning and collaboration.

First, the company will deploy Portchain at the newly opened, state-of-the-art Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal (HLT). Later in the year, Portchain will also be rolled out to South Carolina Ports’ Wando Welch Terminal (WWT) and North Charleston Terminal (NCT). These three terminals mark Portchain’s first entry into the North American market after its earlier success in Europe and Asia.

South Carolina Ports will replace its existing in-house planning solution with Portchain to fully digitize its berth planning.  Consequently, port calls will be automatically imported into Portchain’s powerful Berth Optimization Engine (BOE) application. Furthermore, the digital planning process will enable more accurate and reliable berth scheduling and allow planners to quickly evaluate different scenarios and select the optimal plan, while quickly responding to new customer information.

Replacing legacy systems by Artificial Intelligence solutions

From now on, stakeholders in the port community and shipping lines will utilize Portchain’s cloud-based platform with real-time access to the latest berth schedule. With Portchain, South Carolina Ports will offer a single view of real-time scheduling information. At the same time, it will create a distinctive digital collaboration and competitive advantage for SC Ports and its stakeholders.

Joel Britt (Senior Director Operations) notes:

“South Carolina Ports has a mission to deliver cost-effective facilities and operations, while providing enhanced collaboration and service offerings for our customers and stakeholders. With Portchain, we will deploy the latest cloud technology to digitize and improve vessel operation planning. And create a distinctive customer experience by connecting all stakeholders to the multi-terminal berth plan in real-time.”

Thor Thorup, CCO of Portchain, noted:

“We are excited to partner with South Carolina Ports to digitize the berth planning process and enter the US Market. Our application supports data-driven evaluation of different scenarios and will significantly increase planning speed and accuracy. We look forward to working with South Carolina Ports to simplify communication and creating a common platform to share information in real-time with all stakeholders.”

Learn more about South Carolina and Portchain

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. Besides, SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. In fact, the company is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market and seamless processes. As well in flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility.

Please, visit www.scspa.com in order to learn more about SCPA.

About Portchain

Portchain is a Copenhagen-based tech company. The company builds Artificial Intelligence planning solutions to optimize quayside operations for container carriers and terminals. In accordance, its cloud-based software deploys Artificial Intelligence to support terminal operations by optimizing quayside strategy and resource assignment. For example, Portchain’s solutions manage long term proforma, short term vessel planning and customer visibility. Currently, Portchain is working with several of the largest operators in the industry such as Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Hapag-Lloyd. 

In order to read more information about Portchain, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.