VLI announces one-of-a-kind solution for intelligent ship loading

With the goal of improving ship loading operational efficiency, VLI – a logistics solutions company that operates terminals, railways, and ports – has developed software that creates optimized plans to handle more volumes with the same operational resources while respecting the ship’s stability and safety limits. This initiative to optimize ship loading is a world first, putting the company at the forefront of this process.

Furthermore, this new software reduces the number of hold changes, increases the volume capture of grains and sugar, improves the commercial rate, and reduces the loading initialization time. Luciano Gonçalves Pereira, VLI’s manager of Digital Transformation for Ports and Terminals, explains that this technology, which was previously used for unloading, is now also used for ship loading in VLI’s operations.

Before the development of this software, cargo loading plans were solely the responsibility of the ship’s crew. They did not take into account VLI’s strategy or operational capabilities. In June 2022, the platform was launched and began to be used in the company’s operations at the São Luís Port Terminal (TPSL) in Maranhão. Later, it was implemented in September 2022 at the Luiz Antonio Mesquita Port Integrator Terminal (Tiplam) in the Santos region of São Paulo.

Results

From June to November, the new technology enabled a 34-hour reduction in ship loading time on the TPSL. Also, the total decrease in hours between October and November at Tiplam was more than 121 hours. As a result, the financial gain target until November was R$ 1.170 million. This figure has already been exceeded, with TPSL and Tiplam’s combined earnings reaching R$ 1.229 million.

The company’s Technology, Innovation, and Digital Logistics area developed this intelligent loading initiative in partnership with the business sector.

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