Westports Malaysia’s Remote Physical-Check System wins award for infrastructure technology in cargo handling

It won the award in the annual Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards.

Containers unloaded or loaded onto vessels must always be verified at the wharf. Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd saw an opportunity in developing this process by launching its Remote Physical-Check System (RPS).

The RPS allows the verification process to be performed via Video Analytic Cameras installed on the Quay Cranes structure. Previously, stowage clerks physically inspected the containers at the wharf.

According to the company, this is the world’s first implementation of a physical-check system on a wireless network and infrastructure.

The project development took over two years. This was a purposeful wait as it allowed stowage clerks to now perform verification processes remotely.

The 24/7 video streaming also facilitates weather and pollution-proof verification process. These outdoor certified and weather-proof Pan Tilt Zoom CCTV cameras stream video all hours of the day through networking devices installed at the Stowage Cabin.

Westports Malaysia said that some of the RPS’ benefits include improving work safety and allowing for remote work from the terminal.

Apart from this, turnaround time was reduced by one-third to 30 seconds and accuracy has been improved. It also was shown to have reduced waste.

As for manpower, this has resulted in cutting down the work of three employees to just one. In effect, it has redeployed staff to other operations.

For this project, the company was given the Infrastructure Technology - Cargo Handling award in the recently concluded Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards hosted by Singapore Business Review.

The annual awards programme recognizes exceptional companies who are riding the disruption wave and are leading the technological revolution and digital journeys of their respective industries to boost Malaysia’s fast-growing economy.

In granting the award, the judging panel considered key achievements met by the company.

First is the Malaysian Minister of Transport, YB. Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, officiated the launch of Westports’ Remote Physical-Check System in 2020.

Second is that Westports’ Remote Physical-Check System is the world’s first in implementing this technology via a wireless network and infrastructure.

Lastly, the RPS was developed internally over two years from the proof-of-concept in 2018, to a pilot test in 2019, and finally to a full-scale implementation in 2020.

It also took into account the key benefits of the RPS, particularly its resulting increased efficiency in the workplace, the capacity to have a remote workstation, the enabling of 24/7 operations, the presence of safety and health protocols, and its eco-friendly feature.

According to Westports, the RPS demonstrates the company’s ethos and culture of developing innovative solutions in improving operational efficiency for clients and employee safety.

Westports is known for managing port operations that deal with container and conventional cargo. Apart from this, it provides a range of port services such as marine, rental, and other ancillary services.

It is Malaysia’s leading mega transhipment hub and its success is attributable to its connectivity to more than 350 ports globally.