Hazcheck Systems - Dangerous Goods Software

Hazcheck Toolkits: CASE STUDY - DG Systems Developer

This large ro-ro ferry operator serving the Scandinavian and Baltic states undertook an ambitious project to build an integrated information system that uses state-of-the-art technologies and consolidates all areas of the different business functions.

The tasks of analysing, specifying and building the overall information system were assigned to two well known IT consultancies, who together developed a project organisation made up of stake holders, business managers, suppliers, users and project manager. Altogether the project steering committee was made up of about 50 individuals.

A major part of the project was to automate the booking, loading and management processes of vehicles carrying dangerous goods. The ferry operator did not have a system for complying with the dangerous goods transport regulations. Dangerous goods bookings were checked manually using hard copies of regulations and basic database and spreadsheet type programs.

The IMDG Code is the international regulation for transporting dangerous goods by sea. However, in the Baltic regions the management of dangerous goods transport is further complicated by the Memorandum of Understanding for the Transport of Packaged Dangerous Goods in the Baltic sea. This memorandum, which is updated annually, states that in specified areas in the region, ro-ro ships may carry dangerous goods in accordance with ADR or RID in place of the IMDG Code. In addition, in certain low wave height areas, the segregation required between dangerous goods for certain degrees of segregation can be less stringent than that required by the IMDG Code. Although both of the IT consultancies were expert suppliers of enterprise systems that delivered significant return on investment to their clients, neither had sufficient knowledge and expertise on building dangerous goods management systems.

The requirement
Exis became aware of the project when a Request for Information was received from one of the consultancies during April 2003. After the submission of the requested information, Exis were invited to a project workshop to make a presentation and to confirm requirements. During the meeting Exis were briefed on the required key functions and processes of the dangerous goods management module. They were to:-

	Input details of all dangerous goods carried within a vehicle
	Check the compatibility of DG items carried within a vehicle against the requirements of the IMDG Code
	Option to check against additional operator and port DG restrictions
	Check stowage requirement of vehicle against the IMDG code
	Check stowage and segregation onboard against other vehicles carrying dangerous goods
	Produce a Dangerous Goods Manifest
	Optionally comply with the current Memorandum of Understanding for the Transport of Packaged Dangerous Goods in the Baltic Sea, including checking segregation requirements for Low Wave Height Areas
	ADR and RID Proper Shipping Names and other selected data
	All Proper Shipping Names in English, German, Swedish and Danish.

In addition, since the information system was being developed in Java, the dangerous goods module was required as a Java API (a set of callable program routines developed in the Java programming language).

The Hazcheck Solution

During the Workshop Exis identified the Hazcheck Toolkits as the best system option for this client. Hazcheck Toolkits contain the same operationally proven IMDG Code database files and validation engine as the other Hazcheck products, thus providing the same benefits and efficiency gains as the other Hazcheck products. In additional, there is an added benefit in that the Tookits can be integrated into third party information systems, significantly reducing development time, cost and risk. Exis also maintains the data in line with current amendment of the regulations, relieving the ferry operator of this task.

A proposal for using the Hazcheck Toolkits modified as a Java API and containing functionality for the IMDG Code, the Baltic Memorandum of Understanding and ADR/RID was submitted to the client.

The project was completed in the following time frame:-

April 2003 - Request for Information (RFI) received

September 2003 - Exis invited to make presentation and to confirm requirements

October 2003 - final specification agreed

November 2003 - contract signed

January 2004 - first test version of Java API containing the Baltic Memorandum of Understanding and required ADR/RID functionality delivered to customer

March 2004 - final operational system delivered

June 2004 - integration of the Java API and acceptance testing completed by customer

The time frame between Exis delivering the first test version of the system and the customer completing the integration, therefore, was approximately 6 months.

Tangible and intangible benefits of the Hazcheck Tookits solution for this customer

	The dangerous goods module of the system was implemented much quicker. The same development would have taken the client at least two years

	Exis already have the relatively complex rules of the IMDG Code stowage and segregation validation in computerised format. There is no need for the client's DG experts to spend valuable time analysing requirements of the Code and producing a specification for the developers

	Hazcheck Toolkits contain quality assured data. The validation engine has been in use for over ten years, during which time it has undergone many improvements based on user feedback

	Exis supplies an updated Toolkit whenever there is an update to the regulations

	Exis supplying the DG functionality means that the client can concentrate on the overall functionality of the information system and not be bogged down with specific requirements such as whether or not compromises are being made to the DG functionally

	Exis have a worldwide customer base over which to amortise development costs.

Exis Technologies are systems developers of the Computerised IMDG Code for the International Maritime Organization