Section 1
The world’s port of call
At any one time, there are around 1,000 vessels in Singapore waters – with a vessel arriving at or departing from the port of Singapore every two to three minutes
By virtue of its strategic location on the world’s major trade routes, Singapore is the world’s busiest container transhipment hub and leading maritime center. Here, container ships stop en-route to some 600 ports around the world – usually to load cargo into other container vessels. The logistics are complex and demanding.
Jimmy Koh, Head of Pilotage in PSA Marine, which provides pilotage and harbor towage to vessels calling at Singapore, explains more: “The latest generation of container mega-vessels can extend up to 400 meters, the length of several football pitches. Piloting vessels of that length and size to and from terminals in such a busy port requires time and skill. Any delays in vessel arrivals can have a huge ripple effect for port operations overall, with resources like cranes and trailer trucks idling, and port workers waiting and on hold.”
Looking to achieve more efficient marine operations, PSA Marine and EY asked whether data analytics harbor the answer?
Section 2
Utilizing untapped data
Predictive analytics and machine learning create new efficiencies
We, and PSA Marine, could see there was untapped operational data – from the distance between the pilot boarding-ground and destination berth to the size and weight of vessels to tidal information, and many other factors affecting the time it takes vessels to transit through the port
Using predictive analytics and machine learning, we created an application that PSA Marine can now use to optimize resources and determine key variables such as when pilots and tugs should meet the incoming or outgoing vessel, and how long the vessel transit duration will be – bringing about higher port productivity overall
Section 3
Making a difference
Higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness helps PSA Marine to differentiate itself, achieve greater sustainability and strengthen its competitive advantage
PSA Marine is now better positioned to provide higher service quality to the port of Singapore, its customers and the tens of thousands of vessels it serves by planning and allocating marine resources more efficiently and effectively. These efficiencies can then be passed onto the container and marine terminals, benefitting their managers and workers.
Mr. Koh ends: “Leveraging this data generated from our business operations and investing in data analytics has enabled us to provide more effective and efficient services to terminals, the shipping community and the port of Singapore as a whole.”
The team
Summary
EY is working with PSA Marine to optimize marine operations in the port of Singapore, the world’s largest container transhipment hub and leading maritime center. We unlocked the value of previously untapped operational data. Using predictive analytics and machine learning, EY worked with PSA Marine to design and develop an app that enables greater efficiency and effectiveness in the planning and deployment of marine resources.
