Virtual dry port: The motors of the shipping economy

At the 4th GSS, Mr.Kang Shuchun, the CEO of Shippingchina, throw out his new invention,the concept of Virtual dry port which triggered widespread debate and reflection among the participants.
The reporter learned from last year's summit: in 2008, China's foreign trade reached 2.56 trillion U.S. dollars, the completion of medium-sized port cargo throughput is more than 5.87 billion tons, of which there are 1.92 billion tons of foreign trade cargo throughput, container throughput of 128.35 million TEU. China has become the world's largest trading nation and the largest maritime country, but there is a considerable gap from trade and shipping powers. At present the total cost of logistics in China accounted for 18.1% of the GDP, while the average level in developed countries is around 9%, the logistic cost has doubled. It is noteworthy that a single logistics cost in China is lower than developed countries, no matter warehousing, land, or labor costs
At the 4th GSS, that China's logistics and transport costs are high was once again mentioned as the crux of the problem. It was agreed that the "logistics" is the basis of transportation, coupled with supply chain management concept, the information flow, logistics, capital flow and effectively together, the whole process of scientific and reasonable arrangements to the maximum extent possible to reduce unnecessary handling, Handling, storage areas, minimize the vain driving, reduce costs, achieve the smooth flow of goods, so that we can save time and cost savings, the relevant parties can share. Now, information flow and logistics to match, how to e-business integration which is a serious problem。
As an important node in the logistics, the port's internationalism, information technology, electronic construction is not only core competitiveness, but also the key to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Mr.Kang Shuchun ,CEO of Shippingchina said that in March 2009, Shippingchina brought a delegation to Europe and elsewhere abroad to study. Developed countries in Europe and the United States have entered the port logistics development network and the information age and become a landlocked economy and international hub. Port and inland areas through road, rail, river and airport reasonable convergence, both for the local market is for the inland markets, expand port hinterland to form a container intermodal center, to achieve safe and efficient collection and distribution of containers.
Thus to judge, our integrated logistics costs are high, the main reason for inefficient configuration is unscientific addition to industry, the complex transport node, service backward,no form of information integration are the key issues.
The virtual times of shipping industry
Mr.Bao Qifan ,the vice president of Shanghai International Port Group stated in the “Port economy and industrial development”forum: "Information, intelligence, automation is the needs of the entire building of an international shipping center, also the future trend of development. Lately we have been doing work in this area, such as we have recently engaged in a container full real-time online system, which in the promotion of the transparency of the entire container logistics and will play a significant role in efficiency. "
“Harmony and Integration” ,Mr.Kang Shuchun ,CEO of Shippingchina expressed the requirements of the information age. He led the team, based on six years of shipping experience, e-commerce, after a large number of incoming first-line research, listen to expert opinion at home and abroad, combined with the current international economic situation, promote the innovation and introduction of "virtual dry port" concept:
"Virtual dry port is the port facilities of water, functions and services and family support services virtual ports, and integrated into an electronic platform through electronic networks, extend to the hinterland of the transport hub cities (ie dry ports), and anhydrous service for docking, collaborative customs, commodity inspection, banking and insurance sectors, exports of goods operation ahead of schedule and, through scientific and technological means to protect the safety of exported goods shipments modern integrated logistics information platform system. "
Virtual dry ports’ construction and implementation of the benefit of industries and agencies, including international trade, freight forwarding, logistics, shipping companies, ports, customs, three inspection, national policy-making institutions.
In response, Mr.Kang Shuchun said that the port can make use of the virtual water supply of the contract of inland port to reduce pressure on the port set Shugang to enhance the port's operational efficiency and use of scientific data analysis to guide port of scientific decision-making.
International trade can make use of the virtual dry port to achieve the carriage of goods of door to door service and lower logistics cost, real-time grasp the carriage of goods by the state, and can quickly obtain a bill of lading, improve foreign exchange settlement rate, the rate of increase trading liquidity.
Freight forwarding logistics group can make use of virtual dry port online for goods, contract, reduce labor costs and achieve online customs clearance, commodity inspection, insurance and other business operations online, real-time control operational progress to improve the overall level of service freight forwarding logistics business to enhance its core competitiveness force.
Shipping companies can make use of virtual dry ports to achieve the scientific capacity to deploy, the deployment of science to achieve its container, and can be a very good grasp of supply distribution, the better to expand its service network system.
Customs and inspection agencies can make use of virtual dry ports to achieve real-time monitoring of goods to enhance the efficiency of customs clearance inspection, effective prevention of smuggling and so on.
Government decision-making bodies can make use of virtual dry ports to achieve the scientific allocation of transport resources, and a better grasp of local economic development, through a multi-industry, information technology benign interaction to enhance China's overall logistics to achieve operational efficiency, reduce costs and enhance Chinese enterprises and information on competitiveness, the development of national land-locked economies. And the system provides massive data information can be as a government decision-making and to formulate a scientific reference for development planning to enhance predictability and achieve harmonious development.