The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) hascommended the achievements of Global Tracking Maritime Solutions (GTMS) in improving secure shipping services in Liberia, and calls on the Government of Liberia (GOL) to extend the operational agreement of the company in Liberia.
GTMS was established in Liberia to create an effective and efficient cargo tracking system, virtually interlinking all major ports to a central global database system using a SAAS and Physical architecture employing the latest technology, infrastructure and human capacity.
According to a CSNL press release, “Since its establishment in Liberia and its selection by the government in 2018 as the Exclusive General Managing Agent with the license to implement the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) System in the country’s Maritime/Ports system and ensure full compliance, GTMS has greatly restored Liberia’s maritime image. Due to the effective cargo security measures instituted by GTMS, the US Coast Guard removed Liberia from the list of countries affected with the US Port Security Advisory, which required vessels arriving in the US after visiting ports in the Republic of Liberia.”
The Civil Society Network of Liberia then recognizedthe level of anti-terrorism measures being effectuated by GTMS in Liberia’s maritime operations. “The operations of GTMS in Liberia is so pivotal because the company has not only pre-informed ports of expected cargoes and all other security measures, but has helped to better scrutinize cargo entering the nation’s ports, in compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code Part B of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention,” the release observed.
According to the release, “GTMS workings in Liberia has been beneficial to Liberia’s business community and increased Liberian revenue generation. The Tracking System has greatly minimized the issue of missing containers and improved shipping delivery in Liberia. GTMS has been efficient in expediting and facilitating trade in both sea and land freight cargo by providing one-stop global logistics management hub, vessel routing, value and duty assessment and port terminal handling advisers.”
The civil society group said it wants to make it clear that GTMS remains essential to Liberia’s maritime and port security systems. The group recounted that the company’s contributions to the growth and development of Liberia’s economy, provision of employment opportunities and the security for cargo entering and leaving Liberia is laudable. “Due to the effective employment of modern maritime security system by GTMS, poor handling of shipping manifest, increases in tracking cost and the use of alternative ports entry from neighboring countries have been curtailed. GTMS has truly revolutionized maritime and ports security, through the services of real time tracking, high security standards for cargoes and fast and efficient delivery of shipping services,” the release added.
“The Civil Society Network of Liberia is of the strongest conviction that the continuous operations of GTMS in Liberia is cardinal to maintaining Liberia’s increased revenue base, economic growth, safe shipping in Liberia. As President Boakai fights to meet his ARREST Agenda, GTMS serves as a major contributor to raising domestic resources for implementation of the agenda. Hence, we call on the Government of Liberia, led by His Excellency Joseph Boakai to expeditiously ratify the GTMS agreement. We call for urgency on the part of the Government of Liberia (GOL) to do the 2nd Amendment on the Global Tracking Maritime Solution (GTMS) and the Republic of Liberia agreement,” the release continued.