Navis Customer Wins Prestigious Caribbean Shipping Association Award

Navis, the global leader in enterprise software solutions for logistics asset visibility, control and optimization, congratulates Sociedad Portuaria Regional De Cartagena (SPRC) for being named Best Container Terminal for the third consecutive year by the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA). The Port of Cartagena won the award in mid-October at the 37th annual general meeting of the CSA.

SPRC is considered a major logistic center and a tourist destination in the Caribbean. It also serves as a major transshipment hub with more than 420 ports in 110 countries. SPRC has used Navis solutions for 10 years, specifically Navis SPARCS terminal operating system (TOS), Navis Quay Commander, Navis AutoStow, Navis Expert Decking applications and Navis PrimeRoute for ITVs.

"We're thrilled to know SPRC was selected because of its efficient port operations and reliable customer service," said Deane Stuart, Navis' vice president of maritime sales for the Americas. "We believe Navis played a significant role in the port's selection for this prestigious award, for a third time."

Because of the Navis software, SPRC has increased its productivity, quadrupled its throughput, and optimized its workload, without hiring a single new employee. SPRC decided more than 10 years ago to replace its in-house system with the SPARCS TOS.

"We have become a reliable and efficient port with SPARCS," said Eduardo Bustamante, Director of Systems and Telecommunications at SPRC. "Before implementing SPARCS, we had inefficiencies and high cost operations. SPARCS real-time reliability helped us improve our yard situation in a major way."

Bustamante continued, "SPRC is able to react and implement more strategic measurements using the Navis software. As we have grown we have being stressed in giving better services and productivity to the vessels. The real-time information SPARCS provided and its optimization tools has been the key to our market success."

For example, since upgrading to the SPARCS TOS, the port increased throughput from 231,549 TEU in 1997 to 468,864 TEU in 2004, a 105% increase. Today, SPRC's current throughput is 788,374 TEU. The SPARCS TOS enables SPRC to fully automate and optimize vessel, yard allocation and equipment dispatch with minimal worker direction or interaction, which means faster, more efficient load and discharge. The terminal has also doubled its container handling now that it has the information technology to help manage larger vessels that can accommodate more containers.

About Navis

Navis is the global leader in proven, mission-critical solutions that provide asset and cargo visibility, control and optimization within the global supply chain market. Founded in 1988, Navis was the first company to automate marine terminal operating systems (TOS), improving productivity, velocity and visibility of cargo movement through port and intermodal facilities. Today, Navis continues to deliver advanced technologies to supply chain nodes in more than 50 countries. Navis SPARCS N4 is the world's leading TOS that enables logistics providers, such as APM Terminals, APL and Dubai Ports World, to meet or exceed their business goals. Navis core technologies adapt for adjacent markets providing integrated logistics solutions like Navis Yard and Navis Edge Manager to optimize yards, rail and distribution centers for Navis customers like Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart and Coca Cola Bottling Company. Navis' suite of products streamlines the flow of goods or "connect the docks" from major ports to some of the world's largest warehouses and retail chains. Navis partners with leading companies such as Psion Teklogix, IBM, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS and Motorola. With headquarters in Oakland, California, Navis has offices worldwide. For more information on Navis, please visit www.navis.com.