THE terminal operations planning system (TOPS) developed and used by Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) is one of five finalists selected for a Computerworld Smithsonian Award in the transportation category this year.
According to Rachel Pong, HIT's general manager of information technology, HIT is the only company outside the United States to make it to the finals in this category.
TOPS is a resource-planning application that ensures optimum use of berths and container yard space.
After tracking each ship 14 days before its arrival, TOPS suggests the most conveniently located berth and a preferred area of the yard to accommodate containers to be loaded.
The system can essentially balance competing objectives, such as keeping berths as full as possible while avoiding a queue of ships in the South China Sea.
Faced with growth in container throughput, HIT has to maintain its competitiveness through technology breakthroughs.
