Haifa Sparcs TOS update

Haifa Port Company is to replace its 20-year-old container management system with Navis Sparcs N4 terminal operating system (TOS) from Zebra Enterprise Solutions. The northern Israeli port, which sits on the shores of the Bay of Haifa in the Eastern Mediterranean, will implement the system during the second half of 2010.

"We were impressed by Sparcs N4’s richness of functionality, advanced planning modules and the simplicity of using the system by the end user," said Uri Regev, the port’s CIO. "We were also impressed by the high level professional staff of Zebra Enterprise Solutions and by the very unique methodology utilised for analysis of our requirements. We were equally impressed with the R&D roadmap planning and how Zebra Enterprise Solutions is adaptive to the needs of its customers. This issue was very important to us."

The port’s container terminals include the Western, Eastern, Carmel and Kishon terminals. The Carmel Container Terminal is currently being used only as a storage area, but will become the port’s newest and most advanced container terminal in 2010.

In 2008, the Eastern, Western and Kishon terminals collectively handled 1.25m teu. The port of Haifa is expected to increase to 2.5m teu in the coming years, after the new Carmel container terminal is fully operational, said Regev.

The web-based Sparcs N4 system is expected to offer Haifa improved customer support, increased stacking yard capacity and greater control over resources.

"The benefits of Sparcs N4 are very clear. We expect to have better control on the container management, improved productivity, and better services to our customers" said Regev. "We want to be more accessible and transparent to our customers, allowing them to interact with our IT systems. We’re confident that Sparcs N4 will help us to meet our vision of future growth."

Bill Walsh, general manager at Zebra Enterprise Solutions, said N4 will give the port the competitive advantage it needs. "Our software will enable the port of Haifa to optimise data capturing, reporting, and performance visibility which will promote rapid movement of cargo," he said.

"In challenging times like these, our software will help the port of Haifa simplify its working environment, deploy resources better, and boost client, partner and workforce efficiency by implementing industry best practices."