One system for all ports by September

By SHARIDAN M. ALI

COME September all Malaysian ports will be connected to a national port community system that promises a standardised electronic document manifest scheme. 
The Electronic Manifest System (EMS) is developed by Dagang Net Technologies Sdn Bhd (DNT). 

The long-awaited link-up is a direct result of the success of the Port Klang Community System (PKCS), which was the nation's pilot project for electronic data interchange for port community 12 years ago. 

The EMS will replace the PKCS system as well and will fill the void of port community system at other ports in the country.  
DNT senior general manager Zaharin Ali said the EMS would be an upgraded version of PKCS for the submission of trade documentation aimed at enhancing the efficiency of national cargo movement process. 

“EMS is like a new version of PKCS that fits the general requirements of all ports in Malaysia to do electronic manifest. 

“The universal design of EMS acts as the facilitator between principal shipping agents, shipping agents and freight forwarder to submit/receive application for ship call number, ocean bill of lading and house bill of lading to/from various related authority such as Customs, free zones and port operators. 

“All of them will interface a new but uniformed port community system that links all ports in Malaysia. 

“They will never have to face unfamiliar systems again. 
Currently, he said PKCS only focused on Port Klang community that has to interface different types of port operator system if they do manifestation with other than Port Klang. 

“Furthermore, all the other shipping agents other than Port Klang will be able to enjoy the benefits of electronic data transfer,” he said. 
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Zaharin said they understood the needs of shipping agents that had to deal with different kinds of systems all over the country. 
“They want a single window connection that uses the same format for all ports in Malaysia. 

“The rise of central management or document office trend practised by some major shipping line, EMS will be a perfect solution for them to monitor and submit documents from one single point to just any ports or relevant authorities in the country,” he said. 
On the development of EMS, he said it involved all relevant parties – Customs, terminal operators, port authorities and the International Shipowners Associations (ISOA). 
“We called all the players involved plus other port operators in the country to sit down together to determine the general guidelines that will cater to the needs of ports in different states. 

“Initiated in 2004, it took us almost a year for all parties to agree on the characteristics of EMS. 

“Now, port operators and shipping agents are developing their own interfaces system to get connected to EMS,” he said. 
“Currently, the company is working with the Customs Department on the final leg of a nationwide rollout. 

“We are working on several administrative matter that needs the cooperation of relevant Government agencies that could affect the targeted initiation date.  
“But, it is not a show-stopper, we will try to resolve the matter as soon as we can,” he said. 

He added that with EMS and SMK-Dagang Net network at all major ports would make declaring goods and manifestation effortless. 

In the future, Zaharin said DNT planned to develop a similar EMS trade facilitation system for the airfreight industry as well. 

DNT will also be launching a new web-based service called “ePermit” that will speed up the processing and approval of permits in the import and export industry. 
ePermit will go online at all 23 permit-issuing agencies (PIAs) and will eliminate the need for paper- based trade documents and link all 23 PIAs, Royal Malaysian Customs, importers, exporters, and forwarding agents with the use of the Internet. 
Established in 1989, DNT’s other services include eDeclare, Dutynet, Cross Border Extension and eLogistics.