In recognition of the persistent recurrences of red tape and other hindrances to the seamless movement of cargo and services which is raising the cost of doing business, and the need to provide Information and Support to Shippers and other users of Services in the Logistical Chain in real-time and on a continuous basis, ISCOS is Introducing the SHIPPLINC, a Trade Facilitation Platform for reporting, monitoring, and resolving Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) as well provide information and support to players in Freight Logistics in the region. Mainly accessed through a Mobile Application, the Platform is supported by several other communication avenues both electronic and conventional in addition to being backed up by a back office of Freight Logistics experts who are available to provide support to Shippers and Industry players in real-time.
The main purpose of the Platform, hitherto with support offices in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, and which will serve users of the
major Trade corridors in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa including maritime routes to the region, is to:
Provide an additional avenue for reporting and resolving incidences, happenings, practices, and policies that are considered to
be bottlenecks in the movement of cargo in intra-regional and international trade right from its overseas sources to the places of
destination and vise versa.
Offers instant, and real-time support and information to players in the freight
logistics.
Help in sharing of information via mobile phone technology.
Capture and interpret data on NTBs, hence provide clues on the
effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery in the logistical chain and
help in the determination and formulation of appropriate policies.
Guide the assessment of training needs for Shippers, Truckers, Freight
forwarders and other players in the Industry.
Through a two way structured communication between Shippers, Service
providers and policymakers, provide meaningful linkages between key
players in the industry.
Allows the shippers to track their consignments while on transit
Be an additional source of reliable information on the level of efficiency of
Service delivery in Freight Logistics.
The SHIPPLINC Application is user-friendly and allows the end-user to choose a language (English or Swahili) that best suits them.
The SHIPPLINC APP is available on Play Store/ App Store.
The Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS), with the founding Membership of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and
Zambia and now expanding to Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa unites the Shipping and Maritime Interests of the region where it
has also assisted in the formation of National Shippers Councils in the region i.e. Tanzania mainland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zanzibar,
the representative bodies of Importers and Exporters. Advocacy for Initiatives, Policies, and Practices that encourage the seamless flow
of international trade is central in ISCOS’ activities.
