Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl)—Hong Kong's largest independent handler—has further streamlined its cargo acceptance operations with the opening of its new Terminal Services Centre (Export) (TSCE).

Hactl said the new TSCE features new digital processes and document-handling features.

Hactl noted that its Terminal Services Centre has been providing Air Cargo Documentation (ACD) services for airline customers since 1998.

By 2023, three-quarters of Hactl's 100+ airline customers were using the facility, which now handles an average of 2,000 airway bills daily; around 80% of these have traditionally been paper documents. In 2022, Hactl totally revamped its Terminal Services Centre (Import) (TSCI) operations.

"Hactl's new TSCE provides a more pleasant working environment for staff, and utilises many innovative new features to enhance operational efficiency and the customer experience," the air cargo handler said.

It noted that agents can now make a Dangerous Goods Inspection Reservation via the COSAC-Mobile app, instead of filling out a paper request on arrival at the TSCE counter.

TSCE staff can also now use Real-time build-up monitoring to check ULD build-up progress at workstations in real time.

A new TSC Dashboard, meanwhile, will provide a comprehensive, instant overview of all export cargo documents being processed, facilitating faster and more accurate decision-making and providing important management data.

The new TSCE also supports Export Cargo Document e-Submission, enabling freight agents to submit export cargo documents online in advance, so avoiding last-minute rushes and eliminating counter queuing.

A new Document Submission Hub will enable visiting agents to place their documents into totes instead of handing them to counter staff. The Hub will then check the documents and store them using an automated archive and retrieval system. It will timestamp and track the documents' progress through submission and acceptance or rejection (stating the reason for any rejection) and constantly log progress to provide agents, airlines and Hactl staff with instant, real-time status information.

A Document Management System, on the other hand, will collect and collate data from all Export Cargo Document e-Submissions to assist in consolidating documentation and building cargo manifests for each flight.

 [Source: Hactl]

"The new TSCE delivers numerous benefits for all parties. For Hactl, it will reduce the space and human effort required for paper handling, reduce paper consumption, minimise opportunities for human error and also facilitate earlier pre-manifesting," said Wilson Kwong, chief executive officer of Hactl.

"For freight forwarders, the new TSCE will provide an accurate timeline of progress and instant document acceptance results and also reduce costs by eliminating the use of couriers," he added.

"For our airline customers, the new TSCE will record and display document delivery and acceptance times, reduce the space required for document storage, and facilitate earlier flight close-outs and acceptance of later bookings," Kwong further said.

The Hactl chief noted that the new TSCE is a significant step towards the company's goal of paper-free operations, enhancing its efficiency and service quality significantly.

The new TSCE's opening took place on September 25, attended by numerous officials from government departments, customers and local air cargo industry executives.

These included representatives from the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong, Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics, Hong Kong Association of Aircargo Truckers, and the International Air Transport Association.