Terminal Operating System

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A Terminal Operating System, or TOS, is a key part of a supply chain and primarily aims to control the movement and storage of various types of cargo in and around a port or marine terminal. The systems also enables better use of assets, labour and equipment, plan workload, and receive up-to-date information.

Terminal operating systems generally fall under one of two categories depending on supported cargo type, namely, containerized or non-containerized. Large container terminals typically require yard management functionality in a TOS, whereas bulk dry and liquid cargo terminals do not.

Terminal Operating Systems often use other technologies such as internet, EDI processing, mobile computers, wireless LANs and Radio-frequency identification (RFID) to efficiently monitor the flow of products in, out and around the terminal. Data is either a batch synchronization with, or a real-time wireless transmission to a central database. The database can then provide useful reports about the status of goods, locations and machines in the terminal.

The objective of a terminal operating system is to provide a set of computerized procedures to manage cargo, machines and people within the facility to enable a seamless link to efficiently and effectively manage the facility.

Terminal operating systems can be stand alone systems, managed as a service or use cloud technologies.

In its simplest form, the TOS can data track cargo in and out of a terminal.

Functions[]

A Terminal Operating System may be used to do some or all of the following functions:

Shipping[]

Terminals requiring various types of ship transport
Container terminals using Containerization for LO-LO (lift on Lift Off) operations such as these require plans for efficiently loading and unloading Container ships docked within their Terminal.

A port using RO-RO ships require plans for efficiently loading automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.

Rail[]

Terminals that require the arrival and departure of cargo on trains such as container trains or bulk cargo.

Road[]

Handle the receival and release of Cargo for transshipment from other modes of transport or storage.

Yard management[]

Creating Shipping list or keeping track of Warehouse levels. Tracking machine moves around the terminal.

Invoicing/Reporting[]

Invoicing and providing reports for internal and external use.

Inventory[]

Keeping track of Inventory and storing its movements.

Cargo Type[]

Various types of cargo can be managed dependent of terminal type. This includes containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, break bulk and vehicles (roll-on/roll-off).

External Clients[]

Terminals may wish to communicate with the following through their Terminal Operating System:

• Terminal operators
• Freight forwarder
• Shipping line or shipping agent
• Container operators
• Port authority
• Pilots, tugs and mooring gang
• Cargo owner (eg. oil companies)
• Customs office

Vendors/Suppliers[]

There are several suppliers of Terminal Operating Systems available.

• Cofano^{[citation needed]}
• CommTrac^[1][2]
• GullsEye^[3]
• Hogia^[3]
• Infyz^[3]
• iPortman^[3]
• Mainsail^[1][3]
• MarineBerth^[1]
• Master Terminal^[3]
• Navis^[3]
• Octopi (by Navis)^[3]
• OPUS Terminal^[3]
• OSCAR^[3]
• Solvo.TOS^[1][3]
• Softpak
• Total Soft Bank

See also[]

Electronic data interchange

References[]

External links[]

• How to Choose a Terminal Operating System