Electronic Container Tracking System as a Cost-Effective Tool in Intermodal and Maritime Transport Management

Abstract

The amount of container goods that is lost due to theft, piracy, accidents and damage is unfortunately increasing. Real time remote containers tracking and monitoring can help prevent losing track of container and goods, as well as provide actionable information in order to retrieve goods or minimize damage. Moreover, the ability to determine responsibility in case of damage or theft leads to reduce insurance claims costs and lower insurance premiums. Thus, an effective container transport security and management system should include subsystems such as container tracking and container intrusion monitoring in real time. This paper is based on the AVANTE1 Intermodal Real-time Container Tracking Solution and STARCOM Systems2 TRITON Real-time Container Tracking System used in order to achieve benefits in supply chain security and management. The main aim of this article is to provide a holistic analysis of possible benefits for various levels of potential users of such systems. Working hypothesis of this paper states, that combination of advanced software and hardware solutions can help container owners to monitor their often global fleet of containers, additionally can help in reduce the unnecessary costs and determine economical and security benefits in container management. Practitioners can use the research results as they reveal opportunities to increase competitiveness for carriers, forwarders, logistics and IT companies.