PortXchange, the Netherlands-based digital solutions provider for predictable and sustainable shipping, completed the migration of users from the Greater Houston Port Bureau’s Harborlights Vessel Tracking System to its proprietary PortXchange PilotTracker platform.
As informed, PilotTracker is a platform for real-time pilot scheduling and vessel movement information. It was developed in partnership with GHPB and the Houston Pilots six months after the announcement of a five-year digitalization partnership
According to PortXchange, PilotTracker allows marine exchanges, port authorities or pilot organizations to share pilot scheduling and vessel movement information to port communities and their customers in the most streamlined and user-friendly manner. This information is very important to any participant in the maritime supply chain.
The migration of the users from one system to another is always a challenging change management project, which in this case proved very successful. We now have an out-of-the-box solution that can be implemented in other ports across the world
Sjoerd de Jager, PortXchange’s managing director, said.
The port of Houston has grown to be the top U.S. port by trailblazing better processes, infrastructure, and technology. The improved data transparency from PilotTracker increases business predictability, making this an essential step forward for us to remain efficient and globally competitive
APT Bill Diehl, president of the Greater Houston Port Bureau, said.
We have been providing our pilot schedule information to the community through Harborlights for over 15 years, and we are pleased to continue sharing this information through PilotTracker. Data sharing is essential to be able to coordinate these complex operations with our industry partners efficiently.
Capt. Robert Thompson, presiding officer of the Houston Pilots, said.
What is more, terminals and agents subscribing to PilotTracker already represent 62% of vessel arrivals in the port of Houston. PortXchange and GHPB plan to invite additional parties to the PilotTracker platform that would also benefit from real-time pilot scheduling and vessel movement information.
As it was mentioned, PortXchange is also working with the GHBP to bring the platform to other ports in the U.S.
