Ocean Fleet Managers to Make Better Scheduling Decisions Faster

Magenta launched the first commercially available system to
provide fleet operators with a real-time, reliable planning tool to
manage complex ocean fleet scheduling and re-planning when vessels are
delayed or cargoes change. Until now, operators have planned fleet
logistics manually, often relying on one person who holds all the
essential knowledge and expertise.

Magenta's Ocean Fleet i-Scheduler intelligent software gives fleet
managers the tools to react and respond to events and cargoes in order
to improve fleet revenue. They can plan ahead effectively and make
better scheduling decisions faster. Magenta's technology eliminates the
risk involved in having one person planning the logistics of a fleet,
which in the shipping industry can cause multi-million dollar losses if
the information used to make decisions is not accurate or timely.

Ocean fleet operators are under increasing pressure to reduce operating
margins. To achieve this, managers have to avoid open days where vessels
lie unused and maximise utilisation. They also need to achieve the best
possible time charter equivalent (TCE), which measures revenues achieved
per vessel per day. All of these factors create challenges for the ocean
fleet manager looking to maximise the performance of his fleet. In a
climate of cost pressures, the manager often controls a larger fleet
with the same number of staff, and is under pressure from his
organisation to enhance customer service while improving operating
margins.

The fleet manager may not have sight of the complex logistics decisions
made by the fleet planner, until an unexpected problem arises needing
immediate insight into the status of the fleet and its cargo. Fragmented
team communications, an absent team member or a lack of shared
information hinder the quick resolution of a problem in the best
interests of all the parties involved.

As well as having to plan for the unexpected, the fleet manager also
needs a system in place that plans for any change in circumstances, such
as new cargo that needs to be transported, a vessel delay, port closure
or a market price change. For example, if a customer needs a delivery
faster than expected, Magenta's Ocean Fleet i-Scheduler software will
analyse routes, vessel locations, port constraints, costs, fuel
consumption, speed and distance and any other relevant factors. Working
in tandem with third party resources, it ensures the best decision is
made. This presents the options available and their effects in a clear
and easy to use format.

Jonathan Himoff, CEO of Magenta Technology, explained: "Compared to
truck fleet operators, ocean fleet operators have not taken advantage of
new software to manage their fleets. Considering the multi-billion
dollar cargos they are responsible for, operators have the potential to
achieve multi-million dollars savings if they put more efficient
planning tools in place."

Magenta's Ocean Fleet i-Scheduler software is powered by a new breed of
multi-agent and semantic web technology and can be integrated with all
standard enterprise IT systems.