Terminal Operating System

A Terminal Operating System, or TOS, is a key part of a supply chain and primarily aims to control the movement and storage of various types of cargo in and around a port or marine terminal. The systems also enables better use of assets, labour and equipment, plan workload, and receive up-to-date information.

Terminal operating systems generally fall under one of two categories depending on supported cargo type, namely, containerized or non-containerized. Large container terminals typically require yard management functionality in a TOS, whereas bulk dry and liquid cargo terminals do not.

Terminal Operating Systems often use other technologies such as internet, EDI processing, mobile computers, wireless LANs and Radio-frequency identification (RFID) to efficiently monitor the flow of products in, out and around the terminal. Data is either a batch synchronization with, or a real-time wireless transmission to a central database. The database can then provide useful reports about the status of goods, locations and machines in the terminal.

The objective of a terminal operating system is to provide a set of computerized procedures to manage cargo, machines and people within the facility to enable a seamless link to efficiently and effectively manage the facility.

Terminal operating systems can be stand alone systems, managed as a service or use cloud technologies.

In its simplest form, the TOS can data track cargo in and out of a terminal.

Functions

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A Terminal Operating System may be used to do some or all of the following functions:

Shipping

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Terminals requiring various types of ship transport
Container terminals using Containerization for LO-LO (lift on Lift Off) operations such as these require plans for efficiently loading and unloading Container ships docked within their Terminal.

A port using RO-RO ships require plans for efficiently loading automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.

Rail

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Terminals that require the arrival and departure of cargo on trains such as container trains or bulk cargo.

Road

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Handle the receival and release of Cargo for transshipment from other modes of transport or storage.

Yard management

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Creating Shipping list or keeping track of Warehouse levels. Tracking machine moves around the terminal.

Invoicing/Reporting

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Invoicing and providing reports for internal and external use.

Inventory

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Keeping track of Inventory and storing its movements.

Cargo Type

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Various types of cargo can be managed dependent of terminal type. This includes containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, break bulk and vehicles (roll-on/roll-off).

External Clients

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Terminals may wish to communicate with the following through their Terminal Operating System:

  • Terminal operators
  • Freight forwarder
  • Shipping line or shipping agent
  • Container operators
  • Port authority
  • Pilots, tugs and mooring gang
  • Cargo owner (e.g. oil companies)
  • Customs office

Vendors/Suppliers

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There are several suppliers of Terminal Operating Systems available.

See also

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Electronic data interchange

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Best Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) of 2023". Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Best Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) - 2021 Reviews & Comparison". sourceforge.net.
  3. ^ "Home | TBA Group". tba.group.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Best Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) in 2021 | G2". 2021-08-13. Archived from the original on 2021-08-13.
  5. ^ "TCS DynaPORT".
  6. ^ "Best Terminal Operating Systems (TOS)". Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Intermodal Terminals". www.inform-software.com. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  8. ^ "Find top products in Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) category". Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Tideworks Technology | Terminal Operating Systems". Tideworks. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
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