Port of Cork Ushers in a New Era of Smart Port Operations with the Launch of marineM

Port of Cork Ushers in a New Era of Smart Port Operations with the Launch of marineM

For centuries, ports have served as gateways for global trade—moving people, goods, and ideas across continents. Today, as the maritime world demands greater speed, transparency, and automation, ports must evolve to keep pace. The Port of Cork, Ireland's second-largest port and one of Europe's most strategically positioned maritime hubs, has taken a bold step into the future with the official launch of marineM on 1st October 2025.

This launch follows months of rigorous testing, validation, and a full parallel run that ensured operational readiness across the port's marine services, port services, billing, and agent processes. The go-live marks the culmination of a collaborative transformation effort between Innovez One, the Port of Cork Company, and the Company's wider stakeholders including agents and terminal operators —one that has redefined operational excellence through intelligent digitalisation.

marineM is not merely a system upgrade; it is a rethinking of how ports operate. The platform seamlessly integrates port call management, service bookings, planning and dispatch, and automated billing into a unified ecosystem. It is built to empower ports to orchestrate services with precision, capture operational data at source, and turn complexity into efficiency.

At the core of this transformation lies marineM's unique ability to configure any port service, no matter how specialised, and track it from booking to billing. Combined with a powerful tariff engine and automated invoice generation, marineM marks a leap forward in how the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) manages the full lifecycle of a vessel call.

A Digital Foundation Built Through Rigorous Testing

The road to the 1st October 2025 launch was paved with careful planning and robust operational testing. For several months, PoCC operated MarineM in parallel with legacy processes, comparing outputs, validating data flows, and refining workflows.

This full-scale trial ensured that:

• port calls were accurately captured

• all marine and port services could be booked with correct inputs

• marine services dispatched through the system aligned with operational realities

• tariffs produced accurate billing outcomes

• staff across departments were confident using the new digital workflows

The parallel run not only confirmed system readiness—it strengthened ownership and confidence across the organisation. By the time marineM went live, the Port Company was fully prepared to transition into a smarter, more connected operational future.

Building a Smarter, Connected Port Through marineM

marineM brings together three critical operational pillars, all of which have gone live at the Port of Cork:

• Agent Portal – Shipping agents request port calls, book marine and port services, and upload cargo details.

• Planning & Dispatch – Marine operations teams schedule pilots, tugboats, and logistics using real-time dashboards and mobile apps.

• Billing Automation – A robust tariff engine ensures accurate charging and automated invoice generation.

Together, these modules represent a holistic ecosystem: from the first notification of a vessel's arrival to the final invoice, marineM connects the entire chain of port operations.

"A Story of Transformation: The First Port Call After Go-Live"

On 1st October 2025 at the Port of Cork Company—the official first day of marineM's live operations. A shipping agent, already trained during the parallel run, logs into the new marineM Agent Portal.

Instead of managing vessel requests through email or disparate forms, the agent completes the entire port call digitally:

• Vessel ETA

• Required marine services (pilotage, tug assistance, pilot boarding logistics)

• Port services (fresh water, waste disposal, ISPS security, equipment hire, and more)

• Cargo details for operational and regulatory visibility

Here is where marineM truly stands out: it allows the port to configure an unlimited variety of port services, each with its own unique input requirements.

Flexibility at Its Core

For example:

• Freshwater supply requires tonnage and delivery point.

• Waste disposal logs type, volume, and container details.

• ISPS security requires number of guards and hours.

• Equipment hire may require time booked, operator allocation, and certification.

Every port service template in marineM is built with custom fields, workflows, and billing logic—allowing the Port Company to digitalise operational details that have historically been difficult to capture.

The result is total traceability, from booking to delivery to billing.

Reinventing Port Services Management With marineM

For many ports, digitising marine services is straightforward—but digitising port services, which vary widely in type and complexity, is the real challenge. marineM approaches this challenge with unmatched flexibility.

Every Port Service Becomes a Digital Workflow

The Port of Cork Company can now configure each port service as its own digital process, defining:

• Required inputs and validations

• Operational workflows and checklists

• Approval processes

• Billing rules

• Documentation requirements

Rather than forcing services into rigid categories, marineM adapts to the port's operational reality.

"Operational Traceability From Start to Finish"

When a service is completed, the delivery team records:

• Actual quantities or time spent

• Variations from initial request

• Supporting documents

• Digital signatures for verification

This data flows seamlessly into billing, operational reports, and performance dashboards.

The Port Company gains:

• Better utilisation tracking

• Accurate cost recovery

• Enhanced customer transparency

• Auditable records for compliance

This level of detail was made possible by the exhaustive parallel testing period, which helped validate each service template before go-live.

Billing Automation: Turning Operational Clarity Into Revenue Assurance

As part of its marineM implementation, the Port of Cork now leverages one of the platform's most powerful features: automated billing based on real delivered services. On the 1st October, the Company's finance team successfully generated invoices in marineM's Billing System that were sent out to all customers for that billing cycle.

The Power of marineM Tariff Management

During the pre-launch testing phase, the Company's finance and operations teams configured a wide range of tariffs, including:

• Fixed fees

• Tiered and variable pricing

• Charges based on vessel size or type

• Time- or quantity-based fees

• Conditional surcharges

• Composite tariffs

Each tariff rule is mapped to specific data points collected during service delivery.

From Delivery to Invoice—Automatically

After services are completed and confirmed:

• marineM triggers the appropriate tariff rules.

• Charges are calculated automatically.

• Billing items are generated without manual intervention.

• Invoices are prepared instantly for financial review or direct issuance.

This eliminates billing delays, reduces disputes, and ensures revenue completeness.

The months-long parallel run allowed the Port of Cork to validate tariff calculations against historical invoices, ensuring accuracy at go-live.

Agent Portal: Enhancing Transparency & Customer Experience

Shipping agents benefit immediately from the digital transformation. Through the Agent Portal, they can:

• Create and manage port call requests

• Book marine and port services

• Upload cargo manifests

• Track request and service status in real time

• Receive automatic notifications

• View billing details and charges

This self-service capability strengthens agent relationships and reduces administrative overhead.

"Future-Proofs Port of Cork's Ambitions"

The successful 1st October 2025 launch is just the beginning. marineM's modular architecture ensures the system will grow with the port's needs. Future enhancements may include:

• AI-driven vessel scheduling

• Just-In-Time planning

• Integrated berth management systems

• Environmental performance analytics

• National or regional maritime system integrations

With marineM, the Port of Cork Company has established a digital foundation capable of supporting long-term innovation.

Conclusion: A Milestone Marking the Port of Cork's Next Chapter

The launch of marineM on 1st October 2025, following months of rigorous testing and a full parallel run, represents a historic step forward for the Port of Cork. The port has embraced a future where operations are transparent, services are traceable, and billing is automated.

With the combined power of its:

• Agent Portal

• Planning & Dispatch

• Configurable Port Services Module

• Automated Billing & Tariff Engine

the Port of Cork is now operating with greater precision, efficiency, and customer alignment than ever before.

This milestone marks the beginning of a new era—not just for Cork, but for ports across Europe looking to modernise and future-proof their operations.

marineM has enabled the Port of Cork to evolve into a smart port ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow, backed by a platform designed to adapt, scale, and innovate.