MERSEY MARITIME SCOOPS FREIGHT AWARD FOR QUAY SKILLS
General, 20 Oct 2009
MERSEY MARITIME SCOOPS FREIGHT AWARD FOR QUAY SKILLS
Staff from Mersey Maritime were celebrating last week when they picked up the prestigious Freightwise award at the Merseyside Transport Partnership's annual awards ceremony.
The award, which was announced as part of Merseyside's third annual transport conference, recognises innovation in the transport of freight.
The Mersey Maritime entry was based on two innovative projects with which the organisation has been actively involved, both of which are helping to improve the impact of moving freight within the Merseyside region.
The first, which goes under the brand name of 'Quay Skills' is an exciting new simulator-based training and assessment package that uses virtual reality scenarios to replicate conditions experienced by operators of heavy machinery such as cranes, to move, load and unload containers within a ports environment. Four simulator stations are already based in a dedicated training suite within Mersey Maritime's Birkenhead offices, where port operatives from the Port of Liverpool and Twelve Quays are already undergoing training.
The second project, ContainerPort, is a web-based system to track the movement of cargo containers from port to destination. Created by AIMES, a spin-out company of the University of Liverpool, ContainerPort is a prime example of how action is being taken to increase supply chain efficiencies and cut the industry's carbon footprint. Mersey Maritime worked with AIMES to introduce the product into companies including Atlantic Container Line and JMD Haulage, both of which now use it as an integral part of their supply chain process.
Jim Teasdale, Chief Executive of Mersey Maritime, who accepted the award on behalf of the Mersey Maritime team and partners , explained how innovative schemes like these are helping the freight industry and Merseyside as a whole.
He said: "These projects are helping aid sustainable economic development, improving the efficiency and effective use of the existing transport network and enhancing the quality of life for those working in Merseyside. 'Quay Skills,' our simulator training package, is already transforming the way staff are trained and assessed, while ContainerPort is now being expanded across the region and further afield."
Neil Scales, Chair of the Merseyside Transport Partnership, said: "Mersey Maritime's innovative ContainerPort and Quay Skills projects have numerous benefits for the freight industry, from improving skills and customer service to increasing supply chain efficiencies and cutting the industry's carbon footprint.
"I would like to congratulate the team at Mersey Maritime for their commitment to improving the impact of freight in our region. Initiatives such as these have a part to play in helping us achieve our overall vision to provide a safe transport network, which contributes to Merseyside's economic, social and environmental improvement and quality of life."
Issued by Mersey Maritime 20 October 2009.
Further enquiries to Annette Parker at: info@merseymaritime.co.uk / telephone +44(0) 151 647 4747.
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