Do port security quality and service quality influence customer satisfaction and loyalty?

ABSTRACT

This study uses Kaohsiung Port as a case study to evaluate the relationships between port security quality, port service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with shipping companies and freight forwarders in Taiwan. The results indicate that port security quality has a direct and positive impact on both port service quality and customer satisfaction; port service quality has a direct and positive impact on both customer satisfaction and customer loyalty; and customer satisfaction has a direct and positive impact on customer loyalty. However, the impact from port service quality is more significant than that of port security quality. Accordingly, this study suggests that Kaohsiung Port should concentrate on improving its service quality in order to enhance customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.     

Minimum Efficient Scale (MES) and preferred scale of container terminals

The decision on the scale of a port terminal affects the terminal’s managerial, operational and competitive position in all the phases of its life. It also affects competition structures in the port in which the terminal is operating, and has a potential impact on other terminals. Port authorities and terminal operators need to know the scale of the terminal when engaging in concession agreements. In economic theory the scale of a plant/firm is typically defined in relation to the Minimum Efficient Scale (MES), the long-run output where the internal economies of scale are fully exploited. However, there are a number of theoretical and empirical indications that in ports the scale of a terminal is commonly guided by a combination of the MES and other determining factors. The “preferred” scale is the result of a complex interaction between the MES, the port governance framework and objectives, the market size and structure, technological change and operational considerations, physical and geographical limitations, and the business patterns of shipping lines. This study analyses the factors resulting in a preferred container terminal scale that in most of the times is different from the MES. The analysis of the technical, market-related and governance-related factors is supported by theoretical and empirical insights that illustrate the presence of a range of actual ”preferred” scales of terminal concessions that usually are different, below or above, MES.     

双跨桥吊重大件码头装卸工艺与装备

在对国内外桥式起重机重大件码头装卸工艺研究的基础上,提出一种基于悬臂钢结构基础的双跨桥吊重大件码头装卸工艺。该工艺方案采用双跨重型桥吊和轻型桥吊穿越运行和大起重量悬臂钢结构基础等关键技术,已成功应用于宜宾港1 000 t重大件码头泊位建设工程中。其成功应用对长江上游地区的重大件货物的港口中转物流产生重大影响,进一步促进该地区运输业和重型工业的发展。     

Dealing with uncertainty and volatility in the port industry network: social and instrumental antecedents of “clique” survival

The recent proliferation of inter-firm collaborative linkages within the container port industry is progressively shaping a complex architecture of voluntary ties among terminal operators, i.e. an inter-organizational network. Within the overall industry network, some stable groups of densely interconnected firms emerge suggesting the existence of “cliques” where firms repeatedly cooperate with each other and develop strong and durable ties. The growing pressure exerted by economic uncertainty and market volatility on clique stability stimulates a fruitful academic debate on clique survival and its determinants. The present contribution investigates social and instrumental antecedents of clique survival, focusing on equity joint ventures engaged by terminal operators in a 10-year time frame (2002–2011). For this purpose, this study introduces a longitudinal network analysis of inter-firm relationships. Research hypotheses are tested performing binomial logistic regression analysis. In line with network theory assumptions, the outcomes corroborate the explanatory role of a number of social (i.e., cultural similarity and organizational mismatch) and instrumental (i.e., the presence of core firms within the clique and clique equality) antecedents in the survival of cliques. The results, indeed, bring valuable implications for both academics and practitioners.     

Port and terminal selection by deep-sea container operators

This paper deals with the importance of port choice and container terminal selection for deep-sea container carriers. The paper focuses on the research question: on what basis do deep-sea container operators select container ports (strategy) and container terminals (financial reasons) in the Hamburg–Le Havre range over others? In answering this research question, three dimensions are addressed in detail: the buying decision characteristics; port choice strategy; and terminal selection. The results show that strategic considerations at company level are important. For port choice the most important criteria from a carrier's perspective are: availability of hinterland connections; reasonable tariffs; and immediacy of consumers (large hinterland). In addition to these criteria, shipping lines attach great value to often neglected factors, such as feeder connectivity, environmental issues and the total portfolio of the port. The study reveals that port selection and terminal selection are not the same with terminal selection criteria mainly depending on: handling speed; handling costs; reliability; and hinterland connections. The analysis also brought forward that the decision making is different per container carrier, per trade and per port type, implying that a one size fits all approach is not relevant.     

Global supply chain and port/terminal: integration and competitiveness

Much has been said of the importance of port and terminal integration in the supply chain. Authors have stressed the importance of agility to the port environment, which involves being proactive along supply chains, facilitation of intermodal integration, as well as organizational integration and partnership between ports and users. Despite the well articulated importance of the issues, little has been offered in terms of conceptualizations and empirical evidence of what really is meant by port/terminal integration in the supply chain, how such integration can be measured and quantified as well as the extent to which different ports/terminals in the world are integrated in the supply chain and competitive performance implications arising thereof. This paper aims to make a contribution in this respect by (i) reviewing the relevant literature on supply chain integration and port integration in the supply chain, (ii) conceptualizing measures for port/terminal integration in the supply chain, (iii) empirically testing the influence of port/terminal integration in the supply chain on port competitiveness and (iv) outlining the significance and value of the study for port operators, shipping lines, transport providers and for further research.     

基于Inmarsat的数字通信软件CemailFax

CemailFax所必须的最低硬件配置为:一台有串口便携式个人电脑,一台Inmarsat终端。软件采用VC 编程实现,通过ADO数据库实现对用户的管理,通过串口编程实现对Inmarsat终端的控制以及数据传输。CemailFax实现了简单易懂的用户界面,实用的单机多用户机制,以及可以与国际同类软件相匹敌的数据传输速率。CemailFax与国际上同类软件相比,创新之处就在于被拨叫Inmarsat地面站可选和它的中文处理能力。     

The decline of the U.K. merchant fleet: an assessment of government policies in recent years—a rejoinder to Goss's comment

In recent years, the Hong Kong port has been challenged by the emergence of the Shenzhen port. This gives rise to a concern that the high terminal handling charges (THC) levied by the Hong Kong terminal operators are undermining the competitiveness of the Hong Kong port. As the major container terminals in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen are operated by the Hong Kong terminal operators, the monopoly power of these operators is commonly believed to be the cause of the high THC in Hong Kong. The theoretical model developed in this study shows that the trigger point mechanism (TPM) used by the Hong Kong Government to control the supply of terminal capacity may be a source of such monopoly power. Two possible scenarios are considered in the model—Scenario 1 in which expansion of capacity is unconstrained (i.e. the Shenzhen port); and Scenario 2 in which expansion of capacity is constrained by TPM (i.e. the Hong Kong port). Under TPM, the Hong Kong Government commits not to grant the right to build new container terminals unless and until the demand for container handling services exceeds the current capacity by a certain amount, which provides the incumbent operators incentives to invest preemptively in excess capacity in order to block the entry of potential entrants. This model is supported by the empirical findings from this study. The results from this study suggest an urgent need for the Hong Kong Government to overhaul the current port development policy as a part of the effort to promote economic integration between Hong Kong and the Mainland China.     

Global supply chain and port/terminal: integration and competitiveness

Much has been said of the importance of port and terminal integration in the supply chain. Authors have stressed the importance of agility to the port environment, which involves being proactive along supply chains, facilitation of intermodal integration, as well as organizational integration and partnership between ports and users. Despite the well articulated importance of the issues, little has been offered in terms of conceptualizations and empirical evidence of what really is meant by port/terminal integration in the supply chain, how such integration can be measured and quantified as well as the extent to which different ports/terminals in the world are integrated in the supply chain and competitive performance implications arising thereof. This paper aims to make a contribution in this respect by (i) reviewing the relevant literature on supply chain integration and port integration in the supply chain, (ii) conceptualizing measures for port/terminal integration in the supply chain, (iii) empirically testing the influence of port/terminal integration in the supply chain on port competitiveness and (iv) outlining the significance and value of the study for port operators, shipping lines, transport providers and for further research.     

沿海集装箱港区泊位装卸效率对单线航道利用率的影响*

随着港口现代化与船舶大型化的发展,沿海集装箱港区的泊位装卸效率也在迅速提高,单线航道利用率也受到了影响。基于计算机仿真技术,建立沿海集装箱港区船舶进出港作业系统仿真模型,着重研究泊位装卸效率对单线航道利用率的影响规律,为港口规划和建设决策提供参考。研究结果表明:提升泊位装卸效率可提高单线航道利用率,港区在提升泊位装卸效率来增加港口通过能力的同时,要兼顾其对航道利用率的影响,否则将会导致航道利用率过高,造成航道拥堵,降低航道服务水平等级。对于实例中的港区规模,建议装卸效率提升幅度不宜超过13%。     

营口港仙人岛港区LNG码头选址规划方案

仙人岛港区是环渤海地区重要的大型综合性港区,属于双堤环抱空间格局,规划大型泊位多,船舶流量密集。LNG码头具有一定的特殊性和排他性。针对在环抱式港池内LNG码头选址和规划存在的问题,以仙人岛港区为例,集成利用多项模型技术研究通航安全、通航影响、陆域安全、泊位布置和空间利用等,提出LNG码头选址、码头泊位及水域布置方案,对仙人岛港区建设LNG码头起到了关键技术支撑。     

基于Civil 3D的港口陆域高程设计

建筑信息模型(BIM)技术以协同性、可视化、可出图性等优点在水运行业逐渐被接受和推广。Civil 3D提供了强大的三维地形处理功能,可实现地形曲面的三维动态设计,同时支持平面图,纵断面图和横断面图的出图功能。结合Civil 3D软件功能及特点,以西非某集装箱码头为例,探究运用Civil 3D对港口陆域进行高程设计的可行性。通过对比传统高程设计方法,总结使用Civil 3D进行港口陆域高程设计的工作流程,为BIM技术在港口陆域高程设计方面的推广及应用提供新思路。     

多智能体仿真在LNG码头选址及港口规划中的应用

液化天然气(LNG)船舶进出港进行的严格交通管制会影响港口的运营,因此在港口规划阶段须审慎决策LNG码头选址及布局问题。应用自主开发的《基于多智能体信息交互的港口运营系统仿真软件(简称:APSS)V1.0》,建立可模拟涵盖LNG船舶通航影响机制的港口运营系统仿真模型;以实际工程为例,系统探讨LNG船舶通航对近、远期港口运营影响问题的思路和方法;结合水域通航环境特点提出远期优化措施。研究结果可辅助港口规划制定。     

文昌清澜新港码头改扩建工程通用#3泊位码头现浇胸墙混凝土裂缝分析与对策

胸墙属大体积混凝土构件。以文昌清澜新港码#3码头为例,对重力式码头胸墙裂缝的形状特征、成因和工程危害进行分析,提出针对性的防治和治理措施。措施在在新港码头改扩建工程通用#1、#2泊位码头胸墙的混凝土施工中得到应用,取得较好效果。     

Multicommodity network flow model for Asia's container ports

This paper seeks to develop a multi-commodity network model to analyse the flow of containers within the Asia Pacific context. The model is used to evaluate the impact of container throughput in Asia's port by varying terminal handling charges and turnaround time. The three main regions analysed are north-east Asia, east Asia (Chinese port region) and south east Asia. Using the model, it could be shown that Busan port, which is an important transhipment hub in north-east Asia, could boost the container activities in the north-eastern part of China by improving its service quality. It is also found that the efficiency of the land link between Hong Kong and mainland China plays a crucial role for the future of Hong Kong port. While Singapore port maintains its position as a transhipment hub in south-east Asia, there would be expected competition from neighbouring low costs ports.     

Multicommodity network flow model for Asia's container ports

This paper seeks to develop a multi-commodity network model to analyse the flow of containers within the Asia Pacific context. The model is used to evaluate the impact of container throughput in Asia's port by varying terminal handling charges and turnaround time. The three main regions analysed are north-east Asia, east Asia (Chinese port region) and south east Asia. Using the model, it could be shown that Busan port, which is an important transhipment hub in north-east Asia, could boost the container activities in the north-eastern part of China by improving its service quality. It is also found that the efficiency of the land link between Hong Kong and mainland China plays a crucial role for the future of Hong Kong port. While Singapore port maintains its position as a transhipment hub in south-east Asia, there would be expected competition from neighbouring low costs ports.     

Port e-Transformation,customer satisfaction and competitiveness

ABSTRACT

e-Transformation in container ports means port organization-wide innovative transformation encompassing internal and external value chains based on information and communication technology. There is a considerable theoretical literature on the impact of e-Transformation on business performance, but there is very little empirical study on its effectiveness in ports. The objective of this paper is to empirically investigate how e-Transformation in container port management can influence customer satisfaction and port competitiveness. The findings reveal that e-Transformation in container ports can affect customer satisfaction and port competitiveness through e-Workplace, customer relationship management and security, implying that container ports should make every effort to focus on e-transformation in these critical areas. Due to limited empirical studies in this area, the findings have provided an empirical support for the importance of e-Transformation in container terminal management and shed more light on how e-Transformation can affect customer satisfaction and port competitiveness.     

Internalization of port congestion: strategic effect behind shipping line delays and implications for terminal charges and investment

This paper develops a theoretical model to analyze the congestion internalization of the shipping lines, taking into account the ‘knock on’ effect (i.e. the congestion delay passed on from one port-of-call to the next port-of-call). We find that with the presence of the knock-on effect, liners will operate less in terminals, and an increase of a liner’s operation in one terminal will decrease its operation in the other. If the liners are involved in a Stackelberg competition, whether they operate more or less in a terminal under the knock-on effect depends on the comparison between the marginal congestion costs of terminals. Furthermore, we find that the coordinated profit-maximizing terminal charges are higher than both the socially optimal terminal charges and the independent profit-maximizing terminal charges. When the knock-on effect is small, the independent profit-maximizing terminal charges are set at higher levels than the socially optimal terminal charges; but when the knock-on effect is sufficiently large, this relationship may reverse. Besides, the capacity investment rules are the same for welfare-maximizing terminal operator and coordinated profit-maximizing terminal operator, while independent profit-maximizing terminal operators invest less in capacity. The larger the knock-on effect, the larger this discrepancy.     

锦州港25万吨级油品码头建设规划

近几年，锦州港港口吞吐量有了快速的增长，成品油的吞吐量在全港各货种中一直居于首位，对锦州港的发展举足轻重。目前锦州港油泊位的设计通过能力只有470万t／a，而2003年已完成油品吞吐量为720万t。现有设计能力已经远远不能满足锦州港发展要求。根据这种情况，锦州港拟建设25万吨级油品码头，以满足未来发展的需求，同时加强锦州港在环渤海经济区港群中的市场竞争地位。     

港口视频监控方案对比与整合规划

视频监控技术被广泛用于港口运作及口岸监管,然而由于码头业主的不同规划和口岸监管部门对监控的不同要求,造成重复建设和资源浪费的情况突出.在分析当前主流视频监控方案的基础上,以嘉兴港为例,研究口岸视频监控的现状及特点,提出了港口视频监控整合规划方案.