| System to Boost Productivity at one of the World's Busiest Port Complexes |
P&O Ports North America, Inc. announces that it has contracted with TransCore, a leader in the field of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), to implement a wireless access and tracking system for their operations at the new Port of New Orleans' Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. The technologically advanced, 57-acre terminal, slated for completion in mid 2003, is the latest addition to New Orleans' busy port complex.
Effectively managing the volume of transactions at the new facility is essential and the access and tracking system, which relies on TransCore's wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) technology used throughout New Orleans area for electronic toll collection, will help to semi-automate the handling of container transactions at the new terminal by electronically identifying every move a truck makes, including the approach to the gate, granting or denying access, providing direction, tracking location and activity upon entry, inside activities, and departure. The system is expected to improve the terminal's productivity by 84 percent, with a projected increase from 130 to 240 transactions per hour.
Having the newest and most efficient terminal operation systems in the Port of New Orleans at their disposal, P&O Ports North America will be well equipped to handle and move the projected increase of volume coming into the new terminal.
ABOUT THE TRANSCORE SYSTEM
Working in concert with P&O Ports North America's new Gate Entry Management (Napoleon-GEM(TM)) system, which allows trucking companies to pre-advise their trucks' assignments to the terminal and make service appointments, every truck that uses the Napoleon Container Terminal will have a transponder tag encoded with a unique identification number - creating a one-to-one relationship between a specific tag, truck and trucking company.
Upon entering the terminal area, a tagged truck is read and an AM radio message directs the driver to the gate or to the stand-by area, to wait for further instructions. Tag readers, and other technologies such as OCR portals, located throughout the terminal gate complex allow for automated matching of truck ID with assignment information allowing for decreased processing time.
The system will initially require up to 5,000 TransCore AT5100 transponder tags and 20 AI1200 tag readers. An added feature of this system is its compatibility with the transponder tags that are currently used for electronic toll payment in the New Orleans area on the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway and the Crescent City Connection Bridge. Trucks currently using tags for toll payments are not required to purchase new tags for the Napoleon Terminal. Those truckers who would like to utilize the toll payment system in the future could utilize the same Napoleon Terminal tags by registering with the toll authorities.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
P&O Ports North America, Inc.
P&O Ports North America, Inc. is one of the largest terminal operators and stevedores in the United States. Its corporate headquarters are located in Iselin, N.J. The company has operations in 22 ports on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and provides full service stevedoring and terminal operations and management in all cargo handling sectors. P&O Ports is a global leader in container terminal and stevedoring operations with logistics operations in eighty-four ports and twenty-four container terminals in seventeen countries throughout Europe, the United States, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. P&O Ports North America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, London, United Kingdom. For more information, please visit P&O Ports North America, Inc. website at: www.poportsna.com
TransCore
TransCore is a privately held transportation services company with 1,700 employees and more than 80 locations throughout the world. With installations in 39 countries, 80-plus patents and a world-class manufacturing facility, TransCore's expertise in providing system-based applications that improve transportation efficiency is unparalleled. For more information, visit www.transcore.com
Port of New Orleans
With 22 miles of port facilities, the Port of New Orleans has invested more than $500 million in new wharves, terminals, marshalling yards, cranes and transportation infrastructure over the last decade. New Orleans is the only deepwater port in the United States served by six class one railroads that provide port users direct and economical rail service to/from all points in the United States. In addition to rail service, fifty ocean carriers, sixteen barge lines and seventy-five trucking companies utilize the Port of New Orleans. For more information, visit www.portno.com.
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