Computerized System for Containerized Cargo Handling - Feeder Service

Abstract

Feeder Service was the main service provided by Sea Services (PVT) Ltd, which is a computerized system used to capture the details of containers coming to Colombo and going out of Colombo, and report them to Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA). The existing system was developed using CLIPER language and database in dBase. The system was not user friendly and it was not a multi-user system. Entering TDR details and converting them into a standard format, which is called Port Transfer Format, was done manually, hence it was a time consuming process. Moreover, data retrieval and transaction update processes were slow. The system did not support inquiry and marketing statistics and also did not generate Management Information Statistics (MIS) reports. In addition to these, the system was not secure and reliable. The overall objective of the study was to develop a user-friendly Windows base system and introduce a client server network solution and overcome the above drawbacks. Therefore the system was developed using the waterfall model. According to the model, analysis was carried out by studying the existing system, having discussions with the management, interviewing the potential users of the system, collecting the documents and collecting the reports generated by the system. In the design stage, relevant data flow diagrams were designed to the structured method and level them up to 3 . The database was designed using relational model and the j normalization was done up to 3 normal from. Furthermore, the user interfaces were designed using VB 6.0. and the database was implemented using SQL serve 2000. The ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) method was used to access the database through user interfaces. The outcome of the software project was a user-friendly Windows base system to handle the information related to Feeder Service of the Sea Services (PVT) Ltd. The system met all the user requirements except the MIS reports. The functions of generating MIS reports and Inquiry were not implemented due to time constraints. The management of the Green Lanka Shipping Ltd accepted the system; introducing online accessible features and report generating tools to the system could do further enhancements.