Shipping representatives participate in a NEP meeting recently held at the SAJ. - Contributed THE CHALLENGE for the Shipping Industry in Jamaica is to ensure that Port Bustamante complies with international Best Practices; and that it is efficient and cost competitive. In order to do this, import, export and transshipment process efficiencies must be maximised.
The New Economy Project (NEP) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is assisting the Shipping Association of Jamaica in the reengineering of cargo import processes. This will include examination of the current operations, comparison with International 'Best Practices' and obtaining the commitment to implementation of the computer systems and other operational changes, and the preparation of an implementation plan. The project impact is far-reaching as it affects all shipping lines, agents, brokers, hauliers, customs, revenue authorities, importers, and all imports into the Port of Kingston.
The project will improve processes in three stages:
Implementation of recommendations from Phase I,
Implementation of 'quick hit' improvements identified, and
Implementation of new processes
Phase one comprised 'Best Practice' visits to two ports in Panama and the port of Veracruz in Mexico. This visit took place earlier this year with a team comprising representatives from Shipping Lines, Agents, Kingston Wharves, the SAJ, and Fiscal Services. NEP and USAID were also represented.
Recommendations emerging from the 'Best Practice' visits were presented to the SAJ sub-committee and to USAID and were endorsed and subsequently ratified by the SAJ Board. The recommendations dealt with the process re-engineering and the associated stages; and the implementation of 'quick-hit' improvements and other improvements identified from the Best Practice visits.
The SAJ asked the NEP to provide technical assistance for this second phase, which will improve the current processes and increase the automation as well as access to computer based systems associated with the receival and delivery procedures at the Port of Kingston. A major objective will be to reduce the time taken by at least 30 per cent and also improve customer services.
SAJ is working with the Jamaica Customs Department and Fiscal Services Limited on the usage of electronically generated manifests for the Port of Kingston.
An E-manifest pilot project is under way and cargo processing is being done from these E-manifests. It is also anticipated that E-manifests will be the first phase of E-commerce activities between the Shipping Agents, Wharf companies, and Customs.
It is against this background that the SAJ is undertaking a project on the automation of the receival and delivery procedures, and NEP is working with SAJ to create an integrated electronic platform that will serve the maritime industry. It will significantly reduce the number of days from cargo arrival to delivery, thereby benefiting all business enterprises as well as the consumers who are involved in import and export.
The project team has examined the existing processes in detail and agreed the approach to the redesign. Workshops will be held in January to define these improvements.
