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Background
The development of containerization in world trade took place in the 1960s and 1970s when computerization was well established in commerce and was developing very quickly into other areas. The newly emerging container ports and terminals were ideal for the development of inventory and logistics control type computer systems and those systems have been continually updated as the container trade became more sophisticated and as the capability of computer systems advanced. Thus container shipping was one of the early industries to become heavily reliant on operational computer systems.
However, it is one thing being able to access all the information in your computer systems on your own premises, but the true benefits from technology are only really experienced to the full when you have the ability to communicate this information wherever and whenever it is needed.
State-of-the-art communications are fast becoming a necessity in today's international freighting and transport industries. Sophisticated logistics chains, offering a fast and flexible response to customer demands, require an accurate flow of information for tracking, planning and control.
An efficient, streamlined system such as this is essential in order to meet the demands of the "just-in-time" concepts developed by the manufacturing industry whereby every stage of the process is timed to perfection. Everything required, no more no less, is in the right place at the right time, thereby saving huge amounts of time and money associated with stock inventories. Fast and efficient planning, stowage and tracking of cargo are the freighting and transport industry's response to manufacturers' needs.
From the outset, many sectors of the shipping and containerization industries saw electronic data interchange (EDI) as a natural technology for the communication of much of this vital information. The development of EDI standards was closely monitored by the industry and a message development group was set up early in the life of the EDI Association to consider new Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transportation--or trade (EDIFACT) standards for the shipping industry.
Data transfer between ports
In the deep-sea trade, a single container vessel can currently carry in excess of 4,000 containers. Typically, for example, a vessel will load containers at four or five ports in Europe for discharge at any of six or more ports in the Far...