Piracy Protection: The Relevance of Container Tracking Software to Maritime Crime

Still waters run deep. But for many maritime vagabonds, these waters present opportunities to make a quick buck.

Maritime history has always been peppered with stories of pirate raids on commercial vessels. Though the image of the cutlass-wielding, eye patch-wearing swashbucklers of 18th-century narratives has dwindled into the silver screen, the techniques are still being demonstrated by their contemporary counterparts infesting the seas of Africa and Asia.

Now, we do not expect these syndicates to still use flintlocks and powder kegs to raid ships ranging from passenger cruisers to container carriers. It is not surprising that they currently employ the latest in naval weaponry and maritime tracking to zero in on potential targets.

Syndicates now use high speed motorboats to board unsuspecting vessels. Eventually, a variety of scenarios come at play once they have taken over the ship: the loss of cargo or the loss of a crew member, both of which are too serious to warrant neglect.

In many cases, pirate attacks result in revenue loss and ultimately, the loss of lives. But as much as we would like to invest in marine security and training for vessel personnel, it is also the duty of every carrier operator to keep track of every ship en route to its destination.

While governments and international law-making bodies are making considerable progress in improving maritime security and ensuring the safety and maintenance of economic supply chains, carrier operators should also make the necessary steps to protect their supply chains from pirate attacks. And too often, preventive measures and safety nets are more effective. This is where an effective container tracking software fits in.

Shipping softwarecompanies ensure operational conveniences through IT packages that keep track of cargo space, bunker capacity and cost management in regards to tariffs and port costs.  But while all these tend only to the temporal conditions of sea voyage, a software package should also allow the operator a firsthand view of ship positions in real-time and take necessary courses of action in the event of dire scenarios. For this a package should have the characteristics of ease and automation without any unnecessary technicalities. Otherwise, you would need to hire someone with the capabilities of managing such an intricate system.

In addition, your main arsenal should comprise a real-time tracking system that allows you a free rein of your vessel’s progress as well as provide you automated reports on current situations. 

Finally, a system package should also have the capabilities of managing insurance claims in the event of illegal seizure. The package should allow operators to manage policy claims in a systematic and less complicated way, with respect to presenting a clear and complete details of policy components.

 Given that piracy continues to plague and disrupt supply chains across the globe, it is imperative for carrier operators to provide their operations with upgraded IT systems that can ensure vessel security, maintain profitability, and above all save lives.

Weathering the Weather: Using Container Management Software as Cargo Safety Net

The main challenge faced by container shipping managers is maintaining operational health. This entails tracking active supply chains and revenue growth as well as keeping tabs on bunker usage.

These are effectively managed through a container management software package that can help track voyage revenue as well as make sure your vessel delivers on time.

Regardless of these technological tools, managers are still faced by factors that lie outside their control and pose as threats to thousands of tons of cargo every year.

Inclement weather is a huge problem to shipping executives everywhere. In fact, just this year, CNN reported on an incident in which a Danish vessel lost at least 500 containers of precious cargo to rough waves near the Bay of Biscay.

More profound yet is the fact that attrition in cargo deliveries is almost unavoidable.

Apparently, weather issues are typical subjects of interests with regards to shipping operations and on-time scheduling. They entail adverse implications that can jeopardize essential processes on top of delivery reliability.

Given that we cannot simply tell the weather to act favorably on our behalf, we can still secure safe passages for precious cargo whatever part of the oceans the vessels tread.

In recent years, IT technologies that cater to container have seen innovations both in cargo management and schedule oversight. In this respect, there is a constant need for managers to make use of the latest shipping software as a means to improve deliveries and lessen cargo attrition.

Software solutions that seek to streamline important processes should be prioritized. Using a fine-tuned container tracking software, managers can effectively determine the real-time path of specific vessels while taking into account weather disturbances that lie ahead. Onboard personnel are also able to interact through such a software, give updates as well as take courses of action deemed necessary.

In terms of securing cargo, operators must make use of system packages that identify certain physical and operational issues with regards the vessel and regularly update on cargo space. With software that enables a good view on cargo space, operators can monitor space availability in real-time and initiate decisions on issues such as overloading.

Customers are paying a good deal for shipping companies to deliver on schedule and in tune with actual cargo listings. However, weather conditions render these prospects almost 100 percent unattainable. But by installing container management systems that allow oversight of vessel positions and cargo capacities, operators can give better assurances for a safer voyage.