Step 0 – Cargo ordered

A cargo of teddy bears is ordered for delivery from a city in the Chinese inland to Tervuren in Belgium.

Step 1 – Cargo loaded into container in the factory

The cargo is packed, arranged in a pallet and set ready for the journey.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Route and risk planning system: support in route planning, automatic recognition of cargo for early fault management and generation of proof of collection
• SICIS: the factory and the stakeholders stuffing the freight in the container are the first actor collecting and inserting information about the containerised freight in the SICIS system. This information will be afterwards available to all the authorised operators in the door-to-door transport chain.
• Smart-CM platform: the single window platform covers the containers flow in door-to-door chains starting from the point of stuffing (loading) and stripping (unloading), the container is then secured with seals and registered in the platform.

Step 2 – Container sent from the factory to the port for shipping to destination

A truck is charged with the freight container and sent to the Yantian port, where it will be unloaded from the truck and loaded into a ship sailing to Antwerp, Belgium.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Route and risk planning system: tracking and tracing services during the transport on the truck.
• Continuous Communication: this solution provides support for efficient freight transport on the road via V2I communication. Drivers are thus informed and early alerted about traffic and weather conditions and can provide feedback.
• FEA: this solution helps drivers having a more fuel-saving driving style through on-board and back-office functionalities.
• Road freight sector accessibility: though the solution is implemented in the North Sea area, in principle it could be adopted also outside of the area, to support lone HGV drivers during their work. The solution provides the driver with information about traffic/weather conditions, and security hotspots in the region they are about to enter.
• Goods monitoring: the cargo conditions can be monitored during the transport. The driver and the transport manager can receive real time information about them.
• Road safety: through V2V and V2I communication the drivers are timely alerted in case of risk of accidents.
• Intelligent Heavy Vehicle: the solution promotes an eco-compatible transport.

Once at the port:

• Route and risk planning system: information system platform accessible to port authorities to retrieve information about the cargo; automatic generation of proof of delivery.
• Integrated customs IS: the clearance procedures are fast, automatic and paper-free. The solution is currently implemented in Estonia.
• SICIS: the change of transport modality is supported by the IS that integrates information from and to a number of intermodal operators and actors. The container status, position and vessel can be monitored in real time through the web. Anti-theft protection is provided by the solution that triggers an alarm if the container seal is broken or opened by a non-authorized person. Information about the container content, consignors and consignee is available and facilitates customs procedures.
• Smart-CM platform: when the container arrives at the port, the terminal operator already knows the required details to collect the container, load it into the right vessel within the expected time, through the solution. The single window platform supports the exchange of transport modality, integrating information from and to a number of logistics actors, with B2B and B2A functionalities. Port, terminals and customs authorities, AEOs, shippers, logistics and transport service providers can interface to the platform to securely retrieve updated information related to containers: content, shippers, security status, etc.

Step 3 – Weather troubles offshore: unscheduled stop in another port

During the journey, the ship meets bad weather conditions and for safety reason is compelled to stop at the port of Chennai, India.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Smart-CM platform: the platform provides deviation management services in case the container route is deviated from the planned one. The ETA and ETD can be recalculated and the container status can be monitored. The interested stakeholders can retrieve this information through the web.
• SICIS: CSDs attached to containers acquire their position using GPS and transmit this information to SICIS via cell phone radio, so that the container can be tracked and traced through the Internet.

Step 4 – Cargo unloaded by mistake

Instead of being left on the ship at the Chennai port, the cargo is unloaded and the ship sails again without it.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Smart-CM platform: the platform provides deviation management services in case the container is unloaded by mistake in a port, that was not included in the planned route. The ETA and ETD can be recalculated and the container status can be monitored. The interested stakeholders can retrieve this information through the web.
• SICIS: CSDs attached to containers acquire their position using GPS and transmit this information to SICIS via cell phone radio, so that the container can be tracked and traced through the Internet.

Step 5 – Cargo loaded and shipped to destination

The cargo is eventually loaded on another ship which sails to Antwerp, Belgium.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Smart-CM platform: the platform allows logistics actors to retrieve information about the status of the container, its position, ETA and ETD through the web.
• SICIS: CSDs attached to containers acquire their position using GPS and transmit this information to SICIS via cell phone radio, so that the container can be tracked and traced through the Internet.

Step 6 – Cargo not unloaded by mistake in scheduled port: shipped to wrong destination

Another mistake occurs, and the freight is not unloaded from the ship, which continues its journey to Tallinn, Estonia.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Smart-CM platform: the platform provides deviation management services in case the container is not unloaded by mistake. The ETA and ETD can be recalculated and the container status can be monitored. The interested stakeholders can retrieve this information through the web.
• SICIS: CSDs attached to containers acquire their position using GPS and transmit this information to SICIS via cell phone radio, so that the container can be tracked and traced through the Internet.

Step 7 – Cargo transferred with rail to final destination

In Tallinn the cargo is unloaded from the ship and loaded on a wagon, directed to Tervuren in Belgium.

The following practices can assist this step:

• Integrated customs IS: the clearance procedures are fast, automatic and paper-free. The solution is currently implemented in Estonia.
• SICIS: the change of transport modality is supported by the IS that integrates information from and to a number of intermodal operators and actors. Information about the container content, consignors and consignee is available and facilitates customs procedures.

Once in Tervuren:

• Route and risk planning system: this solution allows planning the route and monitoring the cargo during transport for security issues.
• Continuous Communication: this solution provides support for efficient freight transport on the road via V2I communication. Drivers are thus informed and early alerted about traffic and weather conditions and can provide feedback.
• FEA: this solution helps drivers having a fuel-saving driving style through on-board and backoffice functionalities.
• Isolated control priority: the solution prioritizes heavy vehicles at intersections in urban areas, thus promoting less fuel consumption in transportation and reduced congestions in cities.
• Road freight sector accessibility: though the solution is implemented in the North Sea area, in principle it could be adopted also outside of the area, to support lone HGV drivers during their work. The solution provides the driver with information about traffic/weather conditions, and security hotspots in the region they are about to enter.
• Parking Booking: by booking a suitable parking area close to the shop, the driver can be sure to find an area for unloading the freight and delivering it to the shop that ordered it.
• Goods monitoring: the cargo conditions can be monitored during the transport. The driver and the transport manager can receive real time information about them.
• Traffic management of individual vehicles: through V2I communication, the vehicle transporting the freight is routed through allowed (not restricted) traffic areas of the city and can avoid congested zones.
• Road safety: through V2V and V2I communication the drivers are timely alerted in case of risk of accidents.
• Intelligent Heavy Vehicle: the solution promotes an environment-friendly on road transport.