IST Yard-Link

The cycle begins when the container arrives at a yard and ends when the container leaves a yard. While in the yard the location and/or status of a container may change one or more times. The container cannot begin a new life cycle until the previous life cycle is completed, (that is, its departure is recorded). Over time, the same container may arrive and depart from the yard many times. The Yard Management System identifies and tracks each container life cycle by carrier code, container number, and arrival date and time.

Gate in/out:
- The truck driver arrives at the yard. He processes all the paper works at the administration office before entering the yard.
- The gate clerk will register all the information related to the containers and the truck. Moreover, the gate clerk will perform additional check for damage inspection before the driver can enter the yard.
- The gate clerk will print the ticket to the driver including instructions where to drive or pick up his container.
- The information related to the container will be stored on the main server and linked with the terminal host system to report truck arrival and departure.
- In the case of applying EDI system with software system, the gate clerk will only check the container information with the yard bookings coming from other system.

Yard Planning:
All containers passing through the yard gates require a position on the yard. Containers are grouped, based on common characteristics, such as destination, weight, size or others. Y.P.S dynamically allocates available yard space to put these containers together. If required, Y.P.S planner may use pre-defined areas to group unit per service, destination, or special containers, such as operating reefers, out-of-gauge boxes or dangerous cargo.

Y.P.S determines the optimal position for each unit that needs a planned position. Automatic planning requires no human interference, only for exception. Smart stacking algorithms determine how the containers are positioned in the stack. Based on the business rules defined by the Y.P.S planner, the system will allocate the optimal yard slot.

If the system unable to autonomously assign a yard position, the dispatcher is alerted to manually plan the container. The dispatcher interacts with the system and monitors the yard planning operations in real time.
- The objective is to plan the container efficiently with a minimum of shuffling.
- The system user will be asked to enter the parameters needed to identify the yard areas or units. Based on these parameters, the system will be able to select automatically an optimized position for the container.
- With using the hand held yard, the yard executive clerk will be able to record the container position on the computer system on line.

Equipment Control system:
- E.C.S will optimize the assignment of container moves for the currently available equipment, such as straddle carriers, reach stackers and forklifts.
- Each equipment can be identified with the system. Different parameters about each equipment will be required to let the system optimize the selection, such as assigning equipments to specific work area or specific tasks with different priorities or to receive instructions for the whole terminal.
- Equipment drivers, who transport containers over the yard, receive their instruction from a dispatcher over voice radio.

Yard invoicing system:
In accordance with the contracts and tariffs agreed between the terminal and its customers, Y.I.S creates automatically invoices based on the container handling data coming from Y.P.S.
Many services can be defined with the system as invoicing items, many tariffs table can be define and could be linked to specific customer.

Container Maintenance
The system allows the user(s) to view the full cycle of the maintenance process starting with inspection, going through reporting and ending with Invoicing. The system lists the tasks like washing, vacuuming, fixing body dents, paint job, etc…, to be taken on each container. The Invoices are estimated based on the damage code assigned for the container as well as the container type. Repair estimates can be revised, approved and invoice is generated.