In partnership with the US Customs & Border Protection (CBP), the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has developed a real-time container inspection tracking system that improves critical communication between the GPA and CBP.

This new web-based system, known as COAT, was launched in the first quarter 2007. The system is named COAT to represent CBP’s four processes: ATCET (Contraband Enforcement Team), Outbound, Agriculture and Trade.

COAT enables local CBP officers to notify GPA when a container is designated for inspection, creates work orders to move containers through the inspection process, updates seal changes and tracks the release of individual containers – all in real-time.

COAT is accessible to all CBP officers with Internet access, and replaces a stand-alone database system previously used in-house by CBP in Savannah.

COAT is directly integrated with Navis Express at the Port of Savannah, enabling GPA’s customers to track shipments online in real-time.