Jade Software Corporation chief innovation officer John
Ascroft (left) and chief executive Craig Richardson. Photo
by Peter McIntosh.
A Jade Software
Corporation product launched at the Port of Otago in 1994 is
now being used around the world. Business editor Dene Mackenzie
talks to Jade executives about the continuing growth of the
company.
Christchurch-based Jade Software Corporation has had a busy
few months. At the start of the year, DCT Gdansk achieved its
goal of becoming the new container hub for the entire Baltic
Sea region.
Jade began the expansion of its logistics division into
Europe in 2007 with the commissioning of DCT Gdansk, in
Poland. Since then, its marine terminal operating system -
Jade Master Terminal , or JMT - has been adopted by top
terminal operators around the world.
Jade chief innovation officer John Ascroft was at the
forefront in the development of the port management system
when it was installed in the Port of Otago in 1994. Since
then, the software had been sold globally.
Jade managing director Craig Richardson said that from
January, Maersk post-panamax ships sailing on Maersk Line's
AE10 service from China started calling into Gdansk each week
bringing Russian and Finnish cargo to be discharged at DCT
Gdansk.
"To give an idea of scale of these vessels and how much the
Baltic terminal will transform the logistics of containers in
Europe, Maersk's post-panamax ships can carry more than 8200
20-foot containers."
Post-panamax ships were too large to use the Panama Canal and
were more than twice the size of vessels that called on
smaller routes.
As a result, DCT Gdansk was expected to become Poland's
largest terminal this year.
Jade had also recently deployed JMT in Iraq and Norway. It
was operated extensively in New Zealand and Australia along
with Italy and Abu Dhabi.
JMT was selected in February as the terminal operating system
for the port of Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, managed by Gulftainer.
Gulftainer was recognised as one of the most productive
terminal management companies in the world, Mr Richardson
said.
Last year, Gulftainer handled nearly three million containers
in its various terminals around the region.
"Gulftainer is a key strategic customer for the company's
growing marine terminals business in major ports around the
world.
"We are pleased to expand our JMT footprint into the Middle
East with award-winning terminal operator Gulftainer."
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