The Halifax Port Authority has awarded Saab a contract to supply a Port Management Information System (PMIS). The system will streamline port operations, allowing port departments, 80 service providers, customers and other members of the port community to further improve their collaboration.

The Port of Halifax is a full-service, deep water port on the eastern seaboard of Canada and the only east coast Canadian port that can receive Ultra Class Container Vessels carrying over 10,000 TEU’s. The Port is of great economic significance to Canada, connecting Halifax to 150 countries.

“The contract for the Port of Halifax further strengthens our position in the port management market, not only in North America, but worldwide,” said Tomas Hjelmberg, head of Saab's Maritime Traffic Management Department. “The Port has a grand technology innovation plan and we are proud to have been chosen as their visionary partner. Our cooperation with the Port will significantly boost our product innovation.”

The PMIS automates the planning and execution of a wide variety of port operations, from everything related to vessel visits such as resources and services, to complex multi-dimensional client contracts. An important aspect is the resulting accurate billing of services rendered. 

“We are a data driven port. We expect the PMIS to be the single source of information that will transform our business. It will make operations transparent to all members in the port community in real time. It will also make it much easier to measure performance,” said Captain Allan Gray, president and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority. “We decided to work with  Saab because of their track record. They have the best mix of functionality, cost and proven results in the market.”

The PMIS will be delivered by Saab’s Port Management in Vancouver, along with a multi-year support contract and is scheduled for completion in Q4 of 2021.

Swedish company Saab along with ORBCOMM and AAC Clyde Space have announced a new project to develop space-based communication for the maritime sector via the new automatic tracking standard, VHF Data Exchange System (VDES).  

Saab reports that has been awarded a contract to implement a new marine pilot dispatch system for DanPilot, the Danish State maritime pilotage provider, based on Saab’s PILOTCONTROL system.

The Port Authority of New South Wales has awarded Saab a contract to implement a new KleinPilot pilot dispatch application for Sydney Harbour and Port Botany in Australia.

Saab reports that it has been awarded a contract from the Curacao Ports Authority to install the latest version of its KleinPort application for use in the Authority’s new Harbour Management System.

Saab reports that it has been awarded separate contracts from the Canadian Great Lakes Pilotage Authority and the Great Lakes Pilotage Division of the United States Coast Guard to upgrade the Great Lakes Pilot Management System to the latest version of Saab’s KleinPilot.

Saab reports that it has commissioned its first Port Management Information System in the UK, with Belfast Harbour Commission commencing live operations with its KleinPort system.

The Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of the People’s Republic of China reports that AIS data from its coastal and inland waters will be made available to the public online and in real time.

Saab has announced the successful implementation of the National Automatic Identification System (NAIS) on the Indian coastline for India’s Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), which will also be used by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and DG Shipping.

Saab and Thrane & Thrane have both introduced new AIS products, building on their existing technologies with the addition of improved functionality.