Empty container parks look to tech advantages

THREE Melbourne empty container parks are adopting technological change, announcing they will move to the OneStop Modal platform for empty container park management and the OneStop Vehicle Booking System for heavy vehicle arrival notification.

The adoptions take effect from 1 September.

The three ECPs are Port Melbourne Containers, Melbourne Container Park and Westlink Container Services.

Container Transport Alliance director Neil Chambers said the ECPs had a linked ownership structure and were “a key element of the independently owned and operated network of ECPs servicing empty container management needs associated with trade through the Port of Melbourne”.

Mr Chambers said the announcements were also symbolic.

“Port Melbourne Containers was the first ECP in Australia to implement the Containerchain system for empty container park management and truck arrival notification,” he said.

“In May 2011, PMC was also the first in a series ECPs who applied to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to be exempt from the ‘exclusive dealing’ and ‘third line forcing’ provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act.”

The CCA bans conduct known as ‘third line forcing’ which involves the supply of goods or services on condition the customer also acquire goods or services from a third party.

Essentially, instructing transport operators to trade with a VBS technology provider to book a truck arrival timeslot before the truck arrives to transact business with the ECP is potentially a prohibited act of ‘exclusive dealing’, Mr Chambers said.

More information about how the ACCC came to approve third line behaviour can be read here.

Mr Chambers said another significant factor in the switch by PMC, MCP and Westlink to the OneStop platforms was access to full electronic information visibility of empty container de-hire locations.

“Chasing this from some shipping lines who have not shared this information with third-party technology providers in the past has been the ‘holy grail’ for landside productivity and efficiency in the empty container management supply chain,” he said.

“CTAA congratulates PMC, MCP, Westlink and OneStop on reaching this historic milestone.”