Portchain and X-Press Feeders Partner to Enhance Feeder Market Efficiency and Sustainability

Portchain and X-Press Feeders have announced a strategic partnership to bring digital solutions to the feeder market through the deployment of Portchain Connect. The collaboration marks Portchain’s continued expansion into the feeder sector, building on its successful deployment of Portchain Connect in the mainliner market, and reflects X-Press Feeders’ commitment to scaling digitalisation and sustainability efforts.

The project will optimise berth alignment through real-time data exchange, enhancing Just-In-Time arrivals and improving overall operational efficiency. By leveraging Portchain’s digital tools, X-Press Feeders aims to enhance planning accuracy and operational responsiveness, supporting lower fuel consumption and associated emissions.

The initiative will also strengthen collaboration with terminal operators by providing a shared digital platform for berth planning decisions. The digital integration will streamline coordination, leading to more accurate scheduling and reduced waiting times, allowing terminals and carriers to better align their operations with vessel schedules while minimising disruptions and enhancing overall productivity.

Craig Halford, VP of Sales at Portchain, said feeders are crucial to the reliability of supply chains and the efficiency of terminals and ports, and that the partnership with X-Press Feeders showcases the adaptability of the company’s solutions in supporting the feeder market, marking a significant step in the shared commitment to operational excellence and sustainability across the shipping industry.

Capt. Vijayachelvan Silva Raju, Head of Global Operations, X-Press Feeders, said efficient port calls depend on close coordination between carriers and terminals, and that working with Portchain would strengthen berth planning across the company’s network, helping reduce unnecessary waiting time and improve schedule reliability. He added that these efficiencies support lower fuel consumption and associated emissions, reinforcing the company’s broader decarbonisation journey.

Portchain Connect is a global platform connecting more than 200 container terminals and six major container carriers, digitalising the berth alignment process. The platform streamlines the flow of operational data such as schedules and move counts, enabling digital handshakes between terminals and carriers on berthing windows, earlier and more accurate data sharing, Just-In-Time vessel operations, lower bunker consumption and increased terminal berth utilisation.

Together, Portchain and X-Press Feeders said they are paving the way for transformative changes in the feeder market, delivering tangible benefits for both carriers and terminals while driving progress toward a more sustainable maritime industry.