MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS OF CARGO SHIPMENTS

• US 20080004928A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stelvio, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stelvio, Inc.
• Inventors: Trellevik, Knut, Carbone, Albert, Blanchette, Patrick, Marchand, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/753,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004928A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions

Abstract

A method for collecting and managing information related to the shipping and condition of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination is provided. An electronic cargo voyage folder (ECVF) associated with the cargo is created, including a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for the cargo voyage. At the source a first assessment of an initial cargo condition is requested and the first assessment of the cargo condition, a first place of assessment and a first time of assessment is recorded in the ECVF. The events occurring during the cargo voyage are also recorded in the ECVF. At the destination, a second assessment of the cargo condition is requested and a second assessment of the cargo condition, a second place of assessment and a second time of assessment is recorded in the ECVF.

Claims

1. In a network comprising a database and a server, said network being accessible by multiple parties, a method for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, comprising:

storing in said database an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo, and comprising a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage;

at said source, at least one of said parties requesting a first survey of a cargo condition through said server;

recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey;

at said destination, at least one of said parties requesting a second survey of another cargo condition through said server; and

recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey;

said server comparing said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and

said server using said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claim management process.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said server receiving, from at least one of the parties, information as to the availability of a transportation vehicle for loading said cargo at said source;

at least one of said parties requesting a survey of said transportation vehicle condition through said server;

recording said first survey of said transportation vehicle condition in said electronic cargo voyage folder;

providing authorization for cargo loading according to said first survey of said transportation vehicle condition;

at said destination, providing authorization for cargo unloading;

at least one of said parties requesting a second survey of said transportation vehicle condition through said server;

recording said second survey of said transportation vehicle condition in said electronic cargo voyage folder.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voyage comprises an intermediary segment of an overall voyage, said overall voyage for transporting said cargo from an initial source to a final destination.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transportation vehicle comprises a sea vessel.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claim 1, further comprising said server selecting a specific course of action for said cargo voyage from a prediction of overall costs based on information of past cargo voyages stored in already existing electronic cargo voyage folders.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claim 1, further comprising creating and recording a voyage for said cargo in said electronic cargo voyage folder comprising selecting a transportation vehicle, a loading port, and a discharging port.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claim 6, wherein said creating a voyage comprises recording details on said cargo, ports of call, and parties contacted by an operator for said voyage.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claim 1, further comprising said server generating notices concerning a progress of said cargo voyage.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said notices comprise at least one of:

a delivery notice to indicate a date of arrival of said cargo to said parties, an arrival notice to confirm an arrival of said cargo to said parties and a Berth notice to confirm berthing of said cargo to said parties.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claim 1, further comprising recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.

11. An apparatus for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, comprising:

a database adapted to be accessible by a processor and multiple external parties;

a processor; and

a memory encoded with processing instructions for allowing the processor to;

create an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo;

store in said database said electronic cargo voyage folder comprising a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage;

at said source, receive a request for a first survey of a cargo condition from at least one of said parties;

record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey;

at said destination, receive a request for a second survey of another cargo condition from at least one of said parties;

record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey;

compare said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and

use said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claims management process.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further wherein said memory is encoded with processing instructions for allowing the processor to:

record in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.

12. A computer-readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method, performed by a computer, for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, the method comprising:

creating and storing in a database accessible by multiple parties and said computer an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo, including a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage;

at said source, receiving a request for a first survey of a cargo condition from at least one of said parties;

recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey;

at said destination, receiving a request for a second survey of another cargo condition from at least one of said parties;

recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey;

comparing said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and

using said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claims management process.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a transportation vehicle module adapted to provide information as to the availability of a transportation vehicle for loading said cargo and for recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder a survey of said transportation vehicle condition, an authorization for cargo loading according to said survey of said transportation vehicle, an authorization for cargo unloading at said destination, and a survey of said transportation vehicle condition at said destination.

15. A system as claimed in any one of claim 12, further comprising a cost simulator for predicting costs for an overall voyage based on information of past cargo voyages stored in already existing electronic cargo voyage folders to select a specific course of action for said cargo voyage.

16. A system as claimed in any one of claim 12, further comprising an automatic notice generator for generating notices concerning said cargo voyage to parties involved in said cargo voyage.

17. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said notices are selected from a list comprising of at least one of daily delivery notices, arrival notices, berthing notices, authorization notices, and Mate'"'"'s receipt notices.

20. A computer-readable as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.

13. A system for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, the system comprising:

an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo, stored in a database accessible by multiple parties and comprising a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage; and

a cargo survey module adapted to

request a first survey of a cargo condition and record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey upon receiving a first survey request from at least one of said parties;

request a second survey of another cargo condition and record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey upon receiving a second survey request from at least one of said parties;

compare said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and

use said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claims management process.

18. A system as claimed in any one of claim 13, further comprising a voyage events module for recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.