Traditionally, requests for port clearances of vessels entering and leaving the port have been made manually through submissions to four main government agencies; the Royal Customs & Excise Department, the Marine Department, the Health Department and the Immigration Department. Shipping agents have had to submit four different sets of documentation to these government agencies before getting the Port Clearance Certificate.

 

The recent implementation of the VCS has made PTP the first port in Malaysia to have an electronic and paperless system for vessel port clearance.

 

Chief executive officer of PTP, Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, said: "The electronic vessel clearance system is part of the port's effort in providing efficient services in handling and clearance. The implementation of the system will ensure better utilization of resources by shipping agents thus reducing redundancy. These innovations are in line with our aspiration in establishing PTP as a leading transshipment hub in the region."

 

He added: "The high level of commitment and close co-operation from government agencies, in particular Customs, Immigration and the Health and the Marine Department, at PTP have made the VCS possible. We will continue to work closely with these agencies in further identifying improvements."

 

The VCS was developed by Software Design & Consultancy Sdn Bhd and has acquired the consent of the Ministry of Transport. The VCS is also interfaced at system level to MAPASS, a system used by the Marine Department for vessel declaration, and into the PTP Marine system, which controls vessel traffic entering and exiting the port.