Forth Ports Limited, owner of the Port of Tilbury, announces today, 11th June 2012, the appointment of CMC Ltd as its IT partner for the newly-acquired London Container Terminal (LCT).

June 11, 2012 /India PRwire/ -- Forth Ports Limited, owner of the Port of Tilbury, announces today, 11th June 2012, the appointment of CMC Ltd as its IT partner for the newly-acquired London Container Terminal (LCT).

This significant partnership will see Mumbai based CMC working with the UK based port group to implement a new and comprehensive Terminal Operating System; with CMC's Marine and Container Handling (MACH) system at the core of the LCT operation. LCT will handle in excess of 500,000 containers this year, making it the third largest single container operation in the UK and one of the few UK ports servicing both deep sea and short sea customers.

This implementation will fully replace the core terminal operating systems currently in place at LCT and will bring improvements to both the planning and operational aspects of the terminal through the delivery of a world class, modern IT solution. The new system will link to the terminal's automatic gate processing system and will deliver efficiencies in handling and tracking containers both shipside and landside within LCT; as well as allowing for the future expansion of volumes at LCT.

Forth Ports secured 100% ownership of Tilbury Container Services Limited earlier this year as part of its investment programme at the London port. Tilbury Container Services has now been renamed London Container Terminal (Tilbury) Ltd and the Short Sea Container Terminal, previously operated by the Port of Tilbury, is now being integrated with the deep sea operation.

The integration of the short sea and deep sea businesses results in a unique market offering in the UK and, when combined with the planned London Distribution Park covering 65 acres adjacent to the port, confirms Tilbury as a key distribution and transhipment hub for London and the South East of England.

Commenting on CMC's appointment, Stuart Wallace, Divisional Director, London Container Terminal, said:

"We are delighted to be working with CMC Ltd again on this crucial IT system for London Container Terminal. Our terminal handles in excess of 500,000 containers each year and it is vital that our customers receive the very best service possible. This significant investment in the new system will further enhance our customers' experience with us and further secure the Port of Tilbury as a major distribution and transhipment hub for London."

Commenting on the appointment of CMC Ltd, Mr Ramanathan Ramanan, Managing Director and CEO, said:

"We have a long relationship with Forth Ports and are delighted that CMC has been chosen once again to implement its Marine Container Handling system (MACH) at the London Container Terminal. Ports and shipping is a sector for which CMC has developed many innovative IT solutions and the trust demonstrated in us by the Board and senior management of Forth Ports is testimony to that."

CMC has supplied Marine and Cargo Handling systems to Forth Ports since 2004. This includes the implementation of an Integrated Port Operational System (IPOS) in all its Scottish Ports, in the Port of Tilbury and at Nordic Forest Terminals. This system incorporates a container module at Scotland's largest container terminal at the Port of Grangemouth.

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

About Forth Ports and The Port of Tilbury (www.forthports.co.uk)

The Port of Tilbury is a significant part of the Forth Ports Group and also London's major port providing fast, modern distribution services for the benefit of the South East of England. In January 2012, Forth Ports, acquired 100% ownership of Tilbury Container Services Limited (operator of Tilbury Container Terminal) now know as London Container Terminal.

Tilbury's strategic position on the Thames provides a major geographical advantage for transport to and out of London and the South-East making its location the natural point for distribution. Serving the UK's market for forest products, general cargo, vehicles, grain and other bulks, the port offers customers excellent transport links to and from the capital and across the South East.

The Port is a significant distribution centre, covering over 850 acres and is well positioned to access the M25 orbital motorway and the rest of the UK's national motorway network. In addition, there are direct rail connections within the Port, with access to the whole of the UK.

The Port offers:

- 34 operational Berths

- Over 16 independent working terminals

- Over 7.5 kilometres of quay

- Over 500,000 square metres of warehouse space

- Over 7 kms of road within port estate with excellent transport access

- London's only Cruise Ship Terminal.

The Port is now recognised as Britain's Greenest Port and has recently been nominated for a number of awards for the outstanding environmental initiatives which have been delivered over the past few years.

Forth Ports operates seven further ports - Dundee on the River Tay and six ports on the Firth of Forth - Leith, Grangemouth, Kirkcaldy, Methil, Burntisland and Rosyth. The Group also has significant property interests as well as a renewable energy division which is looking to gain planning approval for onshore wind installations and biomass facilities at a number of its ports in Scotland.

About CMC Ltd (www.cmcltd.com)

Incorporated in 1975, CMC Ltd is a leading System Engineering and Integration company in India and is a subsidiary of Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Asia's largest software Company. Operating out of 18 offices and 180 service locations in the country, CMC employs over 10,000 people and has a wholly owned subsidiary in USA called CMC Americas, Inc.

CMC's vision is to operate globally and bring the benefit of Information Technology to improve the productivity of its customers and the quality of its customer's products and services. CMC combines horizontal expertise in Information Technology with its vertical experience developed by working in a wide range of Industries.

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