The Scottish ferry operator & port managing company has entrusted the Edinburgh-based software group to provide it with a port management information system.
ION's Marlin SmartPort solution will provide port management services to 17 of CalMac's harbours (incl. the Oban ferry port and the commercial cargo port at Perth), over an initial four-year term.
The Cloud-based solution integrates systems and data to create a common operating picture that provides better real-time visibility to optimize decision-making across the port community.
"Marlin SmartPort makes ports more efficient and attractive for vessel owners and agents to use, increasing their competitive position while reducing costs and environmental impact. […] For example, automating port call processes can reduce administration time by upwards of 50% while reducing errors," ION stated in a press release.
"After an extensive tender process, we are pleased to select Marlin SmartPort as a solution that not only meets all of our immediate requirements, but also provides a long-term partnership to support our evolving needs," Cameron MacPhail, CalMac's Head of Ports & Harbours, commented.
He furthered, "ION has a strong reputation in the UK port community for an efficient, integrated digital system and a support team that helps drive innovation and value. Marlin SmartPort will support our modernization program to improve operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience as well as our on-going environmental commitment."
To this Stuart Darling, ION's SVP Software and Services, added, "We are delighted to be awarded this important contract from CalMac Ferries. The Marlin SmartPort solution received development funding from Scottish Enterprise at the start of the year, and this contract presents a great opportunity for us to deliver value from that investment across a wide range of harbours in Scotland."
He also underlined, "This award validates the competitiveness of our offering and demonstrates the breadth of Marlin to support a wide range of applications including port and ferry management. Marlin SmartPort was developed with input from port controllers and we continue to advance the platform to cover wide a range of use cases to deliver value to ports and harbours globally."
CalMac Ferries manages 29 routes to over 50 destinations across 200 miles of Scotland's west coast as well as operates 27 ports and harbours across the length and breadth of Scotland.
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