Sri Lanka’s CICT terminal to use electronic cargo dispatch notes

TIn news:   Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) said it has started to use ‘e Boat Notes’ in collaboration with Sri Lanka Customs, with the shift to electronic processing reducing paper in export documentation.
“Officially termed an electronic CDN (Cargo Dispatch Note) message by the Customs, the e Boat Note will enhance efficiency, expedite the process and reduce manpower requirements while significantly reducing use of paper,” a statement said.
Usually running to about four pages per container, the Boat Note is generated by the Export Facilitation Centre and is required for a terminal operator to load an export container.
“With CICT’s Terminal Operation System (TOS) being linked to the systems of Sri Lanka Customs, the Boat Notes of Sri Lankan exporters can now be sent electronically to CICT,” the company said.
CICT said it has become the first terminal operator in the Port of Colombo to implement ‘e Boat Notes’ having only just completed its second full year of operation.
“We have implemented several initiatives to reduce the volumes of paper generated in our documentation processes,” the company’s chief executive Ray Ren said. “We hope that the other terminal operators will follow our example.”
Among other paper-saving initiatives implemented by CICT are electronic invoicing, on-line payments to shipping lines and on-line payments to consignees.
The Chinese-owned CICT manages the Colombo South terminal of the Port of Colombo, the first and currently only deep water terminal in South Asia equipped with facilities to handle the largest vessels afloat.