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Sep 16, 2009 Rapidly growing Colombian port to implement Navis SPARCS solution Zebra Enterprise Solutions, a division of Zebra Technologies Corporation, announced that the Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Barranquilla (SPRB), located on the northern coast of Colombia, upgraded its in-house terminal operating system (TOS) of nearly two decades to NavisTM SPARCS to improve operations and productivity in the thriving Caribbean market. SPRB is one of the largest multi-purpose terminals in Colombia, handling a majority of the country’s steel and bulk products.  For 15 years, SPRB owned its in-house TOS software before deciding to implement the Navis SPARCS solution to increase performance and efficiency.

“Navis SPARCS was the most robust option for us.  It was the best way to optimize the use of our equipment and boost productivity in the terminal, delivering increased value to our customers,” said Pablo Riveira, Port Operations Director. “Barranquilla is the largest city in the Northern coast of Colombia and a prime industrial and commercial sector of the Caribbean coast.  The Navis system will help us handle the increased amount of imports and exports as Baranquilla grows.”

The Navis SPARCS operating system is the leading software solution for real-time graphical planning and control of container terminals.  It allows for advanced optimization and productivity, increased yard utilization and reduced labor and equipment costs and can be tailored to tackle unique characteristics of any terminal operation.  

“As part of our investment strategy, we plan on doubling the amount of containers moving through the terminal in the next five years and ultimately grow our capacity to 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the next 25 years,”  said Riveira, who added that SPRB has a current TEU of 100,000.  “Without Navis, it would be very difficult to achieve this growth.”

The Navis system will allow SPRB to integrate terminal operations to increase responsiveness, improve service levels and reduce operating costs.  The PrimeRoute software application, included within Navis SPARCS, will allow the port to increase straddle and terminal tractor utilization and provide comprehensive, real-time monitoring of their operations as well as comprehensive statistical performance reporting for management.

Bill Walsh, General Manager at Zebra Enterprise Solutions, believes the SPARCS software will be a critical component in helping the terminal to deliver on its long-term growth plan.

“Navis SPARCS software is the system that will take SPRB to the next level to support its anticipated growth,” Walsh said.  “SPARCS unique combination of functional capabilities and built-in best practices will put SPRB on track to achieving its 25-year growth plan of increasing size and shipping capabilities.”