New Media: Long Beach, Metro Vancouver, Virginia

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The Port of Long Beach has established a secure web application that provides customers access to their accounts payable and related information. Port Metro Vancouver welcomes audiences behind-the-scenes of Canada’s largest port with its new online channel, PortTV. The Port of Virginia on June 20 activated a new terminal operating system that it says will help drive efficiencies and lay the ground work for a more modern technology infrastructure at Norfolk International Terminals.

New Long Beach Port Website Gives Customers Data Access 

The Port of Long Beach has established a secure web application that provides customers access to their accounts payable and related information. The Customer Portal is now available to all Long Beach port customers with a valid email address.

Via the internet, the port’s customers can securely log in and view their vessel calls, invoices, payment history, annual minimums, breakpoints, lease terms and lease documents. Invoices can be reprinted or downloaded into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet; customers can also pay invoices online using eChecks at no additional cost.

Security features were integrated into the application from the start, and customers have the option of restricting access by employee to certain types of account information based on security access levels. Most invoice and payment history is available back to October 2011.

Port Metro Vancouver Launches New Online Entertainment Channel PortTV

Port Metro Vancouver welcomes audiences behind-the-scenes of Canada’s largest port with its new online channel, PortTV. Designed to engage and educate audiences, PortTV will share the stories of real people who live and work within the port communities and showcase the role that the port plays across Canada. Hosted on Port Metro Vancouver’s YouTube and Facebook pages, new episodes of PortTV will be rolled out weekly throughout the summer. Check out the first episode here.

"We consistently receive feedback that people would like to know more about Port Metro Vancouver. PortTV is our exciting new initiative that allows us to get out into the community and have some fun talking to people about what we do and the day-to-day impact of the port," says Evangeline Englezos, ?the port authority’s director of community and aboriginal affairs. "PortTV will take audiences inside the diverse world of Port Metro Vancouver, introduce them to some of the people who work within our community, and have some fun with people across the Lower Mainland as we challenge them to see the port in a new way."

Currently airing are two different series, People of the Port and Port Pop Quiz. People of the Port takes audiences offers behind-the-scenes looks at individuals who work within Port Metro Vancouver’s community. Port Pop Quiz David Milchard ventures in to six port communities to quiz peoples’ knowledge of Port Metro Vancouver in a roving game-show style. PortTV will release new episodes each Tuesday from June until September.

Virginia Port Implements New Terminal Operating System

The Port of Virginia on June 20 activated a new terminal operating system that it says will help drive efficiencies and lay the ground work for a more modern technology infrastructure at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT).

"The Port of Virginia is a growing, deep-water container port capable of handling the largest vessels in the East Coast trade," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "Our ability to efficiently service those vessels and their accompanying cargo volumes dictates that we update our terminal operating system now. As volumes increase we must have technology solutions in place that can help us plan, manage and forecast operational needs. Further, this technology upgrade will operate in unison with a program of long-term capital upgrades."

The new system replaces a 25-year-old legacy system that has reached the end of its usefulness. According to the port, it provides real-time visibility across all areas of the operation at NIT, short- and long-term planning capability and flexibility that allows the port to customize features as demand requires.

"For our ocean, rail and motor-carrier partners, the processes of bringing in and loading or unloading vessels, trains and trucks to NIT is unchanged," Mr. Reinhart said. "A high-level of productivity, a fully-staffed labor force and solid customer service will continue to be the norm. Over time, what we will see is a more efficient operation that in the end will benefit our stakeholders and customers."