StormGeo acquires Portchain

Portchain, Copenhagen-based provider of berth alignment software, has been acquired by StormGeo, Alfa Laval’s digital arm for weather intelligence, voyage optimisation and fleet performance. The acquisition will integrate Portchain’s technology into StormGeo’s Voyage Intelligence platform, connecting berth availability and terminal schedules with vessel routing and speed decisions. StormGeo’s Voyage Intelligence gives operators information on vessel performance, weather and route options, helping them weigh arrival times against fuel consumption.

Portchain’s software covers two parts of the port call process. Its Portchain Connect platform allows carriers and terminals to share and align vessel schedules and cargo volumes. Portchain Quay is used by terminal operators to plan berth allocation, crane deployment and workforce requirements, giving carriers and terminals a shared view of planned operations. According to Portchain, its network connects shipping lines with more than 200 terminals, representing over 40% of global container terminal capacity.

The two companies said in a joint statement that bringing the two together connects voyage planning with the conditions awaiting a ship in port. If a terminal changes its expected berthing time, that information can be taken into account in the vessel’s passage plan. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) can then be assessed against the estimated time of berthing (ETB), while the terminal has updated information on when to allocate the berth, cranes and workforce.

This story was originally published by World Cargo News. Read the full story at World Cargo News →