P&O Nedlloyd Website First On Ship-Tracking

P&O Nedlloyd have added a new ship-tracking tool to the Internet website. This feature enables site visitors to locate both owned and chartered ships worldwide. Details are updated on a daily basis at around 12:00 GMT. Historical information covering the vessels' recent movements over several days can also be displayed.

The feature was launched on the P&O Nedlloyd Intranet in 2000, when the company's Fleet Management Division was looking for a method of tracking their ships without resorting to the more traditional methods, notably a daily message from the ship to head office. Fleet Marine Manager Captain Stephen Bligh commented, "We also recognised the value of being able to track our ships on demand in these days of heightened security. With authorised access, we are able to poll a vessel at any time to confirm its position, course and speed. Another benefit is that sea staff's families and friends will appreciate being able to monitor the progress of their voyages from their own home."

P&O Nedlloyd is the first global container carrier to provide open Internet access to the Purplefinder product, which is a web-based application provided by Pole Star Space Applications Limited. Patrick Burrows, P&O Nedlloyd's General Manager Marketing Systems said, "This is expected to be a popular feature which will attract more visitors to our website. For customers with cargo on our vessels it will effectively be a graphic version of our Vessel Tracking product, and it will no doubt be of general interest too".