{mprestriction ids="1,2"}TPA is located at the Port of Arica, which has the largest infrastructure in the region and means that it is a preferred port for large vessels handling cargo from Chile, Bolivia and South of Peru. However, the tripling of cargo handling from 2004 up to 3.1 million tonnes in 2018 has caused some operational challenges.

One challenge is the condition of free storage offered to Bolivian imported cargo for up to 365 days and 60 days for exported cargo. This generates high dwell times for cargo, 12-day average permanence for imported containers and between 10 to 90-day permanence for imported break bulk. It has also led to high levels of extra movements, 5.5 extra moves for a delivery import box and a high level of yard occupation, reaching maximums of 85 per cent in some periods of 2018.

TPA made the decision to replace its in-house operating system with TOS capable of supporting the needs of the multi-purpose port. The decision to implement N4 was made in 2016 and went live September 1, 2018. 

The terminal will rely on N4 to meet its goals of increasing vessel productivity from 18 to 22 moves per hour, increasing productivity of the yard equipment by 20 percent and decreasing extra moves in the yard by 40 percent.

Dante Battaglia, operation assistant manager and head project N4 implementation, TPA, said: “TPA has a deep-rooted culture of innovation and continuous improvement that allowed us to adapt quickly to the multitude of operational changes necessary to be successful under N4. We have enabled a first level tool for our team with which we can provide better service to our customers. We underwent profound changes in the organisational structure of our company, integrating all systems around N4 to completely manage all types of port operations and we’re confident that we will see a substantial ROI as our operations become safer, faster and more efficient.”

Susan Gardner, VP and general manager, the Americas, Navis, added: “TPA is considered a port at the service of Bolivia and as such, has several unique conditions produced a complex operating system and unique challenges that had to be considered. Navis’ knowhow and seamless implementation experience, flexibility to operate multiple types of cargo, ability to integrate with various existing systems and intelligence in yard operations were all critical factors leading to a successful transformation for TPA.” {/mprestriction}