Operational efficiency at the Port of Gothenburg: Digital Port Call

Project leader

The “Digital Port Call” project is led by the Port Authority of Gothenburg, with the collaboration of the technology and shipping company Inter Terminals, which operates in the same port.

Description of the project

The “Digital Port Call” platform arises as an innovative response to the need to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of port operations at the Port of Gothenburg. Started in 2020, this project stands out for its focus on the complete digitalization of the port call process, allowing for more efficient coordination between all actors involved in the arrival and departure of ships.

During the entire port call of a ship, from the open sea to loading/unloading at the dock and back to sea, many different actors are involved who need to coordinate to have an overview of the situation. This involves a lot of communications and means a lot of phone calls, document transfers, website searches, and above all, some risk of misunderstandings. By digitizing the call to the Port of Gothenburg, all these contacts are collected in a single service.

This tool allows real-time communication and coordination of up to 120 different actors involved in the arrival and stay of ships in port, including shipping companies, terminals, tugboats, pilots and transport companies. Basically, it ensures that the right information is available at the right time to effectively plan a smooth scale.

The innovative element of this project lies in the use of advanced digital technologies to optimize port operations. By digitizing the exchange of information, the project facilitates more accurate planning and significantly reduces waiting times and associated CO2 emissions. The platform also allows Just-In-Time arrivals of vessels that receive a digital “ticket” well before arrival, so they do not have to rush into the anchorage area to obtain a favorable time slot for their stopover. In this way, they can be set to a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective speed while sailing from the previous port so that, when you arrive in the port area of Gothenburg, you can go directly to a pre-assigned dock.

Only with the reduction of anchoring and berthing times, it already translates into a reduction in CO2 of approximately 6,000 tons per year. These developments are aligned with the Port of Göteborg’s Green Connection initiative, which aims to reduce port-related emissions by up to 70% by 2030.

As of today, the “Digital Port Call” project is at an advanced stage of implementation, with promising results that are already visible. The Port Authority of Gothenburg has reported a significant improvement in operational efficiency and an effective reduction in CO2 emissions.

Several shipping lines and terminal operators have adopted the new digital platform, facilitating smoother coordination and real-time information exchange.

Objectives of the project

“Digital Port Call” is a tool that improves the operational efficiency of the Port of Gothenburg by digitizing the port call process. In this way, it is possible to optimize the coordination between the parties involved, minimizing waiting times and improving the use of port resources. Real-time data exchange between shipping companies, terminal operators and the port authority improves transparency and facilitates decision-making.

This improvement also has a positive impact on the footprint generated by ships. Better planning means that ships move from the previous port at a greener speed and that the times that ships are at the anchorage area of the port are reduced.

With the implementation of the “Digital Port Call”, the Port of Gothenburg not only improves its operational efficiency, but also positions itself as a leader in the adoption of sustainable and innovative practices in the global port sector.