Gulftainer, privately owned independent terminal operating and logistics company whose global divisions include GT USA in North America, has won an industry award for its Marine and Container Handling (MACH) Terminal Operating System (TOS).
Gulftainer received the ‘Technology Implementation of the Year’ honor at the Logistics Middle East Awards 2017 for the company’s implementation of the terminal operating system, which marks a technology milestone for Gulftainer and the industry at large.
Since 2016, Gulftainer has been rolling out the system in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) across its terminals in the United Arab Emirates and the United States. GT USA utilizes the MACH TOS at Canaveral Cargo Terminal in Florida. The customized software provides computerized control and management of container storage and movement, enhancing the ability to proactively identify and solve problems.
“Leveraging new technologies within our operations to enhance productivity has enabled Canaveral Cargo Terminal to provide the best-in-class service that is a hallmark of all Gulftainer operations,” said Peter Richards, CEO of GT USA.
GT USA was selected to operate Port Canaveral’s first container terminal based on Gulftainer’s international leadership in innovation and efficiency. Canaveral Cargo Terminal received the first ocean carrier container service in 2016. StreamLines, N.V., part of the Seatrade Group, launched its new Bluestream container service with Canaveral Cargo Terminal as its only U.S. port of call. The service ships refrigerated and dry cargo between Port Canaveral, Europe, the French West Indies and Central America.
The terminal was developed at Port Canaveral on 20 acres with two berths and two gantry cranes to serve large vessels, and has operations with a twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) cargo capacity of 200,000 TEUs. Canaveral Cargo Terminal is able to turn around cargo between Port Canaveral and the Orlando area within one to two hours, the fastest transit time when compared to other container terminals in the state.
As a startup, multipurpose cargo and container terminal, GT USA’s Canaveral Cargo Terminal is bringing significant, growing and sustainable economic impact to the port in line with the Canaveral Port Authority’s vision to diversify its cargo base and become a trade gateway for Central Florida and beyond.
Operating the terminal and moving cargo in and out of Port Canaveral, GT USA’s hiring now stands at over 100 direct and indirect employees involved in administration, stevedoring, logistics, safety, security and IT.
In addition to containers, the terminal also handles heavy equipment, vehicles and boats as well as breakbulk and heavy lift cargo. GT USA expanded its supply chain capabilities last year to serve domestic and international shipping lines with the addition of more than 40,000 square feet of covered storage at the Marlin Street Warehouse at Port Canaveral. GT USA provides a full range of logistics services, including trucking, cross docking, storage and inventory control and last mile distribution.