The Republic of Congo's port of Pointe-Noire has implemented an Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) system in a bid to increase the efficiency of the port's administrative and customs procedures, a visiting delegation of officials representing the port told the Hong Kong Shipping Gazette.Under the ECTN system port users are required to login to the official web site, key in an identification number and provide necessary information on the shipment.
A representative of Sin Chiao Shipping, a Singapore and Hong Kong agent company that issues the ECTN, explained the system has been in place for several years. Heading up the six-man delegation, in Hong Kong to inform regional shippers and forwarders about the system in early December was Conseil Congoleis des Chargeurs director general Roch Houlamy.
Mr Houlamy said the port was looking to move towards a completely paperless system in approximately five years. Port officials are also looking to go electronic with their customs clearance system within the next 18 months.
Currently exporters to the central African port need to submit up to 36 pages in documents before clearing customs. Mr Houlamy added that Pointe-Noire was looking to become a hub port for its neighbours, Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At present up to 40 per cent of the port's business comes from Asia, while 30 per cent of the country's imports are currently containerised. While there is no container outflow from the Republic of Congo at present, Mr Houlamy added that containerisation was a future focus for the country and a box terminal is expected to be built at Pointe-Noire in the next few years.
The ECTN system was developed in conjunction with the Belgium-based Bureau International Maritime.
A representative of Sin Chiao Shipping, a Singapore and Hong Kong agent company that issues the ECTN, explained the system has been in place for several years. Heading up the six-man delegation, in Hong Kong to inform regional shippers and forwarders about the system in early December was Conseil Congoleis des Chargeurs director general Roch Houlamy.
Mr Houlamy said the port was looking to move towards a completely paperless system in approximately five years. Port officials are also looking to go electronic with their customs clearance system within the next 18 months.
Currently exporters to the central African port need to submit up to 36 pages in documents before clearing customs. Mr Houlamy added that Pointe-Noire was looking to become a hub port for its neighbours, Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At present up to 40 per cent of the port's business comes from Asia, while 30 per cent of the country's imports are currently containerised. While there is no container outflow from the Republic of Congo at present, Mr Houlamy added that containerisation was a future focus for the country and a box terminal is expected to be built at Pointe-Noire in the next few years.
The ECTN system was developed in conjunction with the Belgium-based Bureau International Maritime.