The Port of Long Beach received a $7.875 million grant for its data system, which port leaders say will help speed cargo deliveries across the country.
Dubbed the Supply Chain Information Highway, the data system will enable users to make scheduling, planning and operational decisions prior to cargo arrival. The grant from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development will help build out functions including export and rail cargo visibility, security features, data exchange, and truck appointments, the port said in its announcement.
The data system will be cloud-based and is expected to be compatible with similar data-sharing platforms across the maritime logistics industry. The product is free to registered users and is expected to help more than 200,000 shippers who use the port, Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. said in the announcement.
“With six marine terminals at the Port of Long Beach now connecting to a beta version of the Supply Chain Information Highway, we’ve entered a crucial phase of development,” Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said in the announcement. “This funding will be important as we roll out these new enhancements to increase cargo velocity and tighten coordination across modes of transportation.”
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Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, chair of the Senate Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, praised the concept, saying it will “not only improve goods access for Californians but also support our communities by strengthening our economic landscape.”
The port tapped technology firm Uncomn to create the Supply Chain Information Highway. Uncomn is working with Amazon Web Services to provide cloud services, the port said.
Development expected in 2024:
- A Container Track and Trace feature to access up-to-date information about container status.
- The Port Operations Dashboard, where users can review Port of Long Beach operational metrics.
- The Beneficial Cargo Owner Dashboard, where BCOs can access detailed information about their containers.
The port announced plans for the platform for digital end-to-end visibility across transportation modes in December 2021.