2009-05: Business Case H: South West

Ignacio Marín, Fundación CTIC

Partners in Business Case H have defined an information system which is now being developed, in order to fulfill the needs of ArcelorMittal for the transport of containers across the European Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. These needs include the dialogue with information systems provided by the different stakeholders in the chain of intermodal transport. Some of these information providers are maritime shipping companies (by means of the INTTRA system offered free by a consortium of these companies). The combination of a collaborative development among LogIT Systems (by means of their D2D software), Fundación CTIC (creating a software infrastructure that isolates D2D from the complexity of ArcelorMittal information systems while communicating with shipping companies via INTTRA), and ArcelorMittal (introducing Business Case requirements plus their knowledge of the internal processes of the company) is now offering the first prototypes for a holistic solution to the needs of ArcelorMittal in the North of Spain supplying cargo to customers all over Europe, based on the FREIGHTWISE Framework. Another partner, Novacom, has joined this Business Case in order to provide their cargo tracking solution, so the logistics team of ArcelorMittal can have detailed information about the location of containers and their cargo. Novacom is working hand-in-hand with LogIT Systems and ArcelorMittal to supply a module allowing updates for the actual location of cargo in real-time. The system will make use of MT3300 devices with GPS and temperature sensors, low power consumption, resistance to adverse environments and bidirectional information transmission via satellite. Simplified installation is one of the important requirements for ArcelorMittal operators to easily deal with the process of mounting the devices on containers.

One of the key requirements of the final information system is ubiquity. Different participants in Case H will be able to easily access information, no matter when or where they need it. Mobile devices will be used in order to consume and provide information to the information system in development. In this way, ArcelorMittal staff might immediately notify the mounting of a tracking device to a container at the very moment and place when and where it is taking place; different personnel in the different port stopovers for vessels might notify the reception and forwarding of containers in-the-field; or even administrative staff at ArcelorMittal, being queried by a customer about the state of a shipment by means of a (mobile) phone call, would be able to find an answer in real-time. Fundación CTIC and LogIT Systems are defining the interfaces for any mobile device with wireless or cellular data connectivity to interact with the software infrastructure in development. CTIC will provide the requirements for a solution based on device independence and considering typical problems of users on-the-go, like limited data input mechanisms or accidental loss of connectivity.

2009-04: Case F - Elbe:Project cargo is a logistic challenge

Lars Källström, BMT

FREIGHTWISE Elbe Business Case looks into new ways of visualizing the progress of the complex pattern of items arriving by road, rail and inland waterway from production sites in Eastern Germany and the Czech Republic to the export terminal of Wallmann in Hamburg. The terminal cooperates with Deutsche Binnenreederei and Sächsiche Binnenhäfen Oberelbe to improve their service to shippers like Siemens and to specialized overseas shipping lines as Rickmers. A great number of parts of different sizes and different weights – some weighing more than 100 tonnes – from different manufacturers around Europe must be brought together by different modes on time for shipment to their final destination. During a workshop in Dresden at the end of January the Elbe Business Case demonstrated the LogIT D2D transport chain management tool with an implementation of the status messages as defined in the FREIGHTWISE Framework. It was shown how the tool could be used to assist the project manager to follow up the status of all transports converging on the terminal in Hamburg. Status information contained not only actual time in relation to schedule but also updates on weight and size of every item. The latter information is required to assess if the complicated stowage plans for the overseas vessel are still valid.

The demonstration was well received and the Elbe Business Case is now looking into the realization of the tool in a “real” running project. Internet-technology in combination with the FREIGHTWISE Framework promises to make it easy to include new partners providing or receiving information directly from/to their in-house systems, thus efficiently assisting stressed project managers.

2009-04: e-freight conference

The European Commission held a conference on "Creating a Roadmap for e-Freight for Freight Transport Logistics" in Brussels on the 17th March 2009. Organised by the Directorate General for Transport and Energy the event was one of many key actions to implement the Freight Logistics Action Plan developed by DGTREN in 2008 as the EU recognised the importance of the subject, especially under the German presidency of the Commission in the first half of 2007. The plan looks to further paperless communication, standards and standardisation in this area, a truly broad remit. The event began with a series of presentations on or around the subject, a questionnaire and then break-out sessions to address the commercial and policy issues of such a plan.

Presentations were made as follows:

• Frederic Leger      The eFreight system of air freight
• Jan Tore Pedersen     ARKTRANS - Scandinavia's freight logistics eFreight system
• Jozef Hupperetz     eCustoms
• John Berry     Research in the EU of eFreight related projects
• Stephen Harley     Shipper's eFreight vision
• Alan Waller - Brian Bolam     The commercial conditions and opportunities of eFreight
• Erik Evtimov     Interoperability CIM and SMGS
• Christos Pipitsoulis     The EU e-Maritime initiative
• Helene Köpf     INTElligent inteGration of RAILway systems
• John Lutz     Technical Specification for Interoperability Telematic Applications for Freight (RAIL)
• Paolo Paganelli     Creating an e-Freight Roadmap for Freight Transport Logistics Background
• Jan Tore Pedersen     Freightwise Making intermodal transport simple
• Jan Prahm     e-freight Conference 2009 Survey

The survey found that the event was keen for progress to be made in this area, with a noteable minority stating that it should be led by industry and not the EU. Over 150 delegates attended and the presentations and survey results are avaiable here: http://www.aimgroup.eu/2009/e-freightbrussels/

2009-04: Haenel urges change at SNCF

FRANCE: Anyone studying French railway policy over the last 20 years will find that one name stands out as a supporter of proposals to steer strategy towards a more commercial and viable future. That name is Hubert Haenel, Senator for Haut-Rhin, who, since he chaired an inquiry into SNCF in 1993, has become something of a rail specialist. He was instrumental in the policy that saw the regions take over responsibility for local services and since then has authored a series of reports on other aspects of rail policy.

Read more: http://bit.ly/ygifC

2009-04: Freight trains to use High Speed 1 from 2010

UK: DB Schenker Rail (UK) announced on April 16 that it had signed an agreement with HS1 Ltd to develop TVM software modifications enabling Class 92 electric locomotives to operate on High Speed 1, the high speed line from the Channel Tunnel to London.

Infrastructure owner HS1 Ltd and DB Schenker have also agreed outline terms for a track access agreement in anticipation of the commencement of freight services on High Speed 1 in early 2010. 'This initiative will allow full-size European rail freight vehicles to move between the UK and the rest of Europe', said Graham Smith, Planning Director for DB Schenker 'It will open up a massive market for cross-Channel rail freight, delivering major environmental and economic benefits'.

HS1 Ltd will ensure that the modifications are available to all Class 92 owners wishing to operate over the high speed line. Eurotunnel subsidiary Europorte 2 has five Class 92 locomotives bought from Eurostar in 2007.

http://bit.ly/CkU13

2009-04: FREIGHTWISE will be at Transport Logistic

FREIGHTWISE will be at Transport Logistic at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 12-15 May 2009. The FREIGHTWISE project will be demonstrating the FREIGHTWISE Framework on its stand at Transport Logistic at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 12-15 May 2009. Transport Logistic is the 12th International Exhibition for Logistics, Telematics and Transport. It is the world’s largest logistics exhibition and is a popular gathering for highly capable transport service-providers and decision-makers in the industrial and research sectors and from trade associations. If you are attending the exhibition come and see us at Stand 425. More information at: www.transportlogistic.de