Digital system aims to streamline port documentation and procedures

New Port Health Management System piloted in Port of Durban

SOUTH AFRICA: A new Port Health Management System (PHMS) aimed at improving service efficiency and streamlining processes for the maritime industry was introduced at the Port of Durban yesterday.

The Acting Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Major General (Retired) David Chilembe was in KwaZulu-Natal to officially announce the new digital platform which is being piloted in the Port of Durban.

“The pilot project will provide valuable operational insights that will inform subsequent rollout to other applicable ports of entry (PoEs) in the foreseeable future to establish a more consistent and digitally enabled port health service across the BMA’s PoEs,” said Chilembe.

“The BMA PHMS is a quantum leap forward in the provision of port health services for shipping agents and authorised stakeholders in the maritime industry who submit port health requests on behalf of vessels, consignments and other relevant parties. The PHMS will provide a digital platform through which Port Health services can be requested, processed, monitored and managed electronically,” he said.

Under the current processes, shipping agents submit service requests and supporting information by email. BMA Port Health officials receive the request, review, process, and respond to the request by email. This process makes it difficult for stakeholders to track progress of individual requests, obtain a consolidated view of requests, track actions and decisions, and retrieve historical information. The PHMS was developed to support the electronic delivery and management of port health services.

Using the new system, stakeholders will be able to submit service requests electronically, upload supporting documentation, process requests through defined workflows, conduct and record inspections, manage invoicing and payments.

The electronic system has been designed to offer an end-to-end digital process for the services supported by the system. The system is set to reduce repetitive administrative activities and allow users to monitor outstanding work. Consequently, the digital system will provide greater visibility of the status and progress of requests by creating a structured record of a user’s transaction.

“As with all the reforms we are pursuing, the PHMS not only digitises existing inefficient processes - it uses technology to completely transform the way in which such services are delivered. Through our sustained reform drive, South Africa is rapidly leapfrogging into a world leader across this ecosystem,” said the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber.

The system is accessible through the BMA Port Health Management System portal. Authorised users will be able to log into the system using their approved credentials. The system supports Entra ID authentication and role-based access control. This means users must be authenticated before accessing the system, and access is restricted to authorised users.

Users will receive further prompts and information regarding registration, access credentials, training and the portal address as part of the implementation and rollout. In addition, users will be provided with support channels and user guidance as part of the PHMS implementation.

SOURCE: SAnews.gov.za