A photo released by Myanma Five Star Line shows “Bago” vessel. Having found success with an online booking system launched in May, MFSL is now planning to introduce additional web-based services later this year.

STATE-OWNED international shipping firm Myanma Five Star Line (MFSL) plans to extend its web-based services after receiving an “outstanding” response to the online booking system it introduced in May, an official with the national flag carrier said.

MFSL deputy chief accountant U Tint Aung said an “outstanding” 87 percent of the company’s previously existing clients were now using the Myanma Five Star Line website, www.mfsl-shipping.com, to make bookings and view shipping routes.

Those clients still conducting business in person were doing so because suitable internet services were not available to them, he said.

“Eighty percent of work related to freight exports that had been done manually is now being processed electronically. The other 20pc of office work is still being done manually because of the coordination required with different government departments from other ministries,” he said.

“We are now negotiating with these departments to digitise these applications so they can operate fully electronically. Needless to say, our customers have already benefited from the reduction in paperwork.”

U Tint Aung said work was progressing on an online reservation system for import freight services that the enterprise plans to introduce this year. This will allow website users to view information on vessels and arrival notices, as well book freight services for imports.

“Customers will be able to trace the ships carrying their imported cargo and they will be informed when it arrives in port. This gives importers time to prepare their office work and market requirements,” U Tint Aung said.

“When completed, two out of three documents needed to collect cargo will be available online.” Delivery order forms would not be provided in an electronic format, he said.

Myanma Five Star Line also intends to develop a web-based container control system for its operations at Thaketa Wharf, Yangon, where it has a container yard and passenger terminal.

“It is an international-standard shipping wharf with the capacity to store over 4000 containers. The control system is aimed at giving MFSL officials an easier way to input, update and retrieve container information,” U Tint Aung said.

The company also hopes to introduce an online ticketing system for its local passenger vessels, although U Tint Aung did not give a timeframe for its implementation.

“Our passenger vessels run from Yangon to cities along the Rakhine and Tanintharyi coasts. An online ticketing system will eliminate the need to visit ticketing offices and the time required to queue up for a ticket,” he said.

However, the current lack of an electronic payment system is likely to be a major barrier to starting the service.

Established in 1959, Myanma Five Star Line operates a fleet of 26 vessels including passenger and cargo ships. Overseen by the Ministry of Transport, the company currently ships to Singapore and two ports in Malaysia.

According to figures provided by MSFL, it earned almost K2.52 billion in the 2006-07 financial year ending March 31, including US$32.43 million in foreign exchange.

The government in late June told business leaders it was ending MFSL’s monopoly on international shipping services and the private sector would be allowed to operate competing shipping lines.