A NEW traffic management system costing $3 million is expected to boost efficiency and productivity for transport companies serving the Singapore port industry by up to 30 per cent.

Under the new system, mobile data terminals similar to those used in taxis for bookings, will be installed in prime movers and trailers that move boxes between the various PSA container terminals in Singapore.

The mobile data terminals allow two-way data flows between drivers and traffic controllers for better routing and vehicle management.

Installation costs range from $1,500 to $2,000 and monthly subscription to the service - called the Containerised Traffic System - costs less than $30.

Before the system was introduced in 2005, data exchange between PSA, the container depots and the headquarters of haulage companies was done via memo paging - but this often resulted in miscommunication and job losses.

The system was launched at a ceremony at PSA Singapore's Pasir Panjang Terminal on Tuesday. It was officiated by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan.

Mr Lee said the new technology, while simple, is a boon for the 300 hauliers who employ close to 30,000 workers and operate 3,000 prime movers and 15,000 trailers in Singapore.

'With one seamless, integrated paperless system for clearance, planning and real-time communication between all the ports, container depots and hauliers and their drivers in Singapore, we will be able to accommodate tremendous increases in container traffic and put ourselves ahead of the competition,' he said.

The new system will be integrated with PSA's proprietary network portal, Portnet, when vehicles mounted with the new technology enter PSA terminals.

So far, 25 logistics firms, 933 prime movers and 5,500 trailers have have adopted the new system.

It was jointly developed by the Container Depot Association Singapore, Singapore Logistics Association and Singapore Transport Association.

The initiative, mooted in 2001, was supported by Spring Singapore under its Local Enterprise and Association Development programme, which typically provides up to 70 per cent funding for such projects.