As the largest marine terminal operator and stevedore in the United States, Ports America manages a vast and complex network of operations across over 70 locations. From container handling and breakbulk to cruise, automotive, and Auto Ro-RO, their day-to-day logistics demand speed, accuracy, and structured reporting — all underpinned by safety and compliance.
With mobile teams working dockside, in cargo yards, and onboard vessels, the company needed a reporting solution that could operate in real-time and in the field — while still being flexible enough to adapt to different job types, cargo, and port environments.
To meet these needs, Ports America adopted NestForms for their field reporting requirements.
“So glad I found you. Your system is PERFECT for our reporting purposes.
NestForms is a must-have for any efficient form producing company.”
— Mario Tabraue, Ports America
A Day in Terminal Operations
Across the Ports America network, staff handle a wide variety of tasks — from early-morning equipment checks and vessel inspections to safety reporting, shift activity logs, and environmental compliance tasks.
Before switching to NestForms, many of these processes relied on paper-based forms, spreadsheets, or inconsistent digital tools. These methods caused delays in data collection, made it difficult to standardise reporting across terminals, and left management teams without reliable visibility into operations in real time.
The NestForms mobile form app has changed all that.
Streamlined Mobile Reporting
Using NestForms, Ports America teams now complete structured reports from their mobile devices — whether they’re on the dock, in a container yard, or inside a cargo hold.
Each form is built specifically for the task at hand, with clear fields for:
- Incident reporting
- Safety compliance checks
- Equipment condition reporting
- Environmental observations
- Photo documentation and time-stamped notes
- Digital signatures and manager sign-offs
NestForms works offline as well, allowing staff to complete reports in low-connectivity environments and sync automatically once back online.
Built for the Way Ports Operate
Port operations can shift rapidly. A new vessel may arrive early, an inspection might trigger an unscheduled report, or a spill may require immediate documentation and follow-up.
NestForms allows local managers to adapt quickly. They can:
- Create new forms or edit existing ones instantly
- Assign forms based on crew or task type
- Standardise data collection across terminals
- Export results to Excel, PDF or cloud storage
- Track submissions from the dashboard in real time
There’s no waiting for IT teams or third-party tools. Managers have complete control over the content and structure of the forms — and that flexibility has made adoption seamless.
A Paperless Approach to Accountability
One of the biggest operational improvements has been the ability to eliminate paper reporting across terminal teams.
Rather than recording information manually and relaying it later, staff now complete reports directly in the field, with supporting images and notes included. There’s no delay in submitting safety or incident forms — and no missing data due to illegible handwriting or forgotten paperwork.
Submissions are immediately available to supervisors and head office, helping to:
- Track compliance
- Monitor operational progress
- Identify recurring issues
- Support audit readiness
- Reduce admin across departments
Supporting a Culture of Efficiency and Safety
With operations running around the clock, having reliable and consistent reporting systems is essential. NestForms helps Ports America maintain high standards across every shift, every port, and every cargo type.
It also supports safety culture by making it easier for crew members to raise observations, record PPE compliance, and flag maintenance needs before they become operational issues.
“So glad I found you. Your system is PERFECT for our reporting purposes.
NestForms is a must-have for any efficient form producing company.”
— Mario Tabraue, Ports America
Try It on Your Next Job
If your port, logistics, or marine operations require structured, field-ready reporting — NestForms can help your teams stay compliant, efficient, and informed from anywhere on site.
Your NestForms journey starts here by signing up for the free two week trial. You can see at first hand and test all of the features available to Premium plan users during this period.
We also offer a Training Demo that’s available to you for free if you have questions when setting up.
