SINGAPORE SHIPPER GROUP TO LAUNCH FREIGHT RATE WEB SITE

SINGAPORE SHIPPER GROUP TO LAUNCH FREIGHT RATE WEB SITE    The Singapore National Shippers’ Council will launch an Internet site in March to enable shippers to request ocean freight rate quotations and book shipments online.
   The shipper group said that its soon-to-be-launched “E-Freight Centre” will help the shipping community cut down paperwork and time when conducting shipping activities via the Internet.
   The Singaporean shipper council said that the system is the first of its kind to be introduced in Singapore.
   The E-Freight Centre, developed for the shipper council by the software firm Singapore Network Services Pte. Ltd. aims to link shippers, logistics service providers and shipping lines in Singapore.
   Shippers will use the Internet system to obtain freight and service rates, book cargo space with shipping lines and generate shipping documents such as bills of lading directly with service providers. The system will also allow
cargo tracking.
   Currently, to make bookings or obtain freight charges or track cargo status, shippers have to establish contacts with various logistics service providers or shipping lines directly via the telephone or facsimile, the council said.