PORT OF BOSTON REVIVES ?FLEX-TIME? HOURS AT CONLEY TERMINAL

PORT OF BOSTON REVIVES ôFLEX-TIMEö HOURS AT CONLEY TERMINAL    The Port of Boston will re-introduce “flex-time” hours at its Conley Terminal, starting today.
   Gate hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with trucks admitted until 4:15 p.m.
   “The expansion of hours at the terminal will improve the flow through the gate and benefit all users of Conley Terminal,” said Michael A. Leone, port director at Boston. “Massport’s support of flex-time represents a substantial increase in the cost of terminal operations. A portion of this additional cost will be shared with the beneficiaries of flex-time in the near future by the assessment of a fair and reasonable fee.”
   The Port of Boston has reported a 15-percent increase in container volumes at Conley Terminal since last year. The terminal will quickly near operational capacity if container volumes continue at that pace, the port said.
   The port said the expansion of terminal hours also follows the launch of an automated gate and yard system on July 22. The Windows-based system tracks container movements on the Web site, (https://www.maritime.massport.com) with access also available by telephone.
   “With the introduction of this new software, some delays were experienced during the first weeks,” Leone said. “The success of this automated system depends on accurate and timely input from the steamship lines, government agencies and terminal staff.”
   “As the shipping community becomes more familiar with the system, we are seeing many of the initial difficulties being resolved, and the terminal staff is continuing to improve the efficiency of the system,” he said.