With the aim to improve the speed and efficiency of cargo handling, more and more companies in the Port of Riga are switching to digital logistics solutions. One of the largest stevedoring companies in the Port of Riga, SIA “Rīgas Universālais termināls”, has introduced a new digital platform developed by the company for the registration of container carriers’ (trucks) entry and automated handling in the terminal area. The new platform is an important addition to the RUT Terminal Operating System in the container segment. Furthermore, it is another significant step towards the full digitization of the Port of Riga’s access and cargo handling processes.

“The company’s objective is to prepare in a timely manner for the digitization process in the transport and storage sector to ensure compliance with the future requirements of the industry. We want to adapt to the digital document format, which has already become an international standard in the industry. Due to this readiness we will be able to remain competitive, improve operational efficiency, and ensure faster information exchange with partners and clients. At the same time, we are proud to be keeping pace with the digitization processes at the Port of Riga and to be pioneers in the implementation of terminal digitization solutions,” emphasized Junfu Yang, Deputy CEO at the RUT.

The digital platform has been developed to provide terminal clients – container carriers – with a more efficient, faster, more convenient and safer way to book visits, enter the terminal and receive services at the port, while digitizing the circulation of cargo documents. Thus vehicle waiting times and queues are reduced, which means faster vehicle processing and more efficient transport planning for the company’s clients.

The new system provides clients with more robust container traceability. When a vehicle’s visit is registered on the new platform, the planned container operation is also automatically registered and confirmed within the terminal’s TOS system, which manages container movement at the terminal from the moment of acceptance to loading onto vessels. Due to that all parties involved in container transport – the shipper, carrier, shipping line, and terminal – receive online information about container movement at the same time. For the terminal, this means much more efficient communication with clients.

“The new system clearly provides the terminal with competitive and economic benefits, which are clearly visible in the cost section. We have become faster, more transparent, safer, and more accurate, which results in cost savings for all RUT terminal users,” added Mr Yang.

The RUT truck registration platform is fully integrated into the Port of Riga’s digital access and pass system, which has been operating at the port since November last year. This system ensures that port visitors and freight transport can enter the Port of Riga by registering their visit electronically and submitting and checking documents in digital rather than paper format. Now trucks can reach the container handling area from the RUT terminal entrance in less than 15 minutes on average.

Digitized truck registration, pass and document circulation systems at the Port of Riga not only increase the speed of cargo handling, improve cargo security and control options, but also reduce vehicle downtime, queues at terminals and traffic jams in the city, as well as exhaust emissions. Such systems will boost the introduction of digital traffic flow management solutions in the future to completely avoid congestion, ensure smooth cargo transport flows, and implement traffic planning in the city, which will reduce the negative impact of freight transport on the urban environment and surrounding areas.