Amsterdam European Gateway to World Trade——An interview with Hans Gerson, President and CEO, Amsterdam Port Authority

With the development of eco nomic and trade relations between China and Europe, more and more European ports become familiar to Chinese customers. As one of the most important gateways in the EU, the Port of Amsterdam, the sparkling pearl centered on North Sea Canal, is now attracting more and more attention from all over the world. In 2002 Amsterdam Ports again achieved record transshipments of over 70 million tons. After Hamburg, Amsterdam is the fastest growing port complex in northwest Europe. The Port of Amsterdam is currently 17th in world rankings and 4th in Western Europe. In the forthcoming 51th anniversary of     

Hydraulic Engineering Technology under Development in China ——An interview with the well-known hydraulic expert, professor Huang Renhao

Editor from Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Editorial Department (shortened as editor in the followingparagraphs): As a well-known hydraulic expert in China, could you please give us a simple introduction ofyourself?Prof. Huang: Being a domestically trained engineer, I've been working in the hydraulic field for over 30 years. At     

A review of deepwater pipeline construction in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico–Contracts,cost, and installation methods

The offshore pipeline network in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is the largest and most transparent system in the world. A review of deepwater projects in the region provides insight into construction cost and installation methods and the evolution of contract strategies. Pipeline projects are identified as export systems, infield flowline systems, and combined export and infield systems, and three dozen deepwater pipeline installations from 1980–2014 are described based on OTC/SPE industry publications and press release data. Export lines and infield flowlines are equally represented and many projects used a combination of J-lay, S-lay and reel methods with rigid steel, flexible line, and pipe-in-pipe systems. The average 2014 inflation-adjusted cost for pipeline projects based on OTC/SPE publications was $2.76 million/mi and ranged from $520 000/mi to $12.94 million/mi. High cost pipelines tend to be short segments or specialized pipeline. Excluding the two cost endpoints, the majority of projects ranged from $1 to $6 million/mi. The average inflation-adjusted cost to install deepwater pipelines in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico based on available public data is estimated at $3.1 million/mi.     

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.     

The regulatory cycle stalled? An assessment of current institutional obstacles to regulatory reform in the provision of road-based public transport in Cape Town, South Africa

Wide-ranging and ambitious proposals for the comprehensive transformation of public transport systems in major South African cities, including Cape Town, have now been in play for a decade or more since the country’s post-apartheid transition. To date, progress in implementing such proposals has been, at best, much delayed and, in Cape Town, appears to have stalled, and may now be significantly compromised. This paper draws on aspects of the concept of regulatory cycles in the bus transport sector to explore some of the key factors which have given rise to this situation, focusing primarily on obstacles embedded in the present institutional framework which governs the provision of road-based public transport in the city. It specifically identifies difficulties in establishing an appropriately mandated and resourced agency at the local level to drive forward the transformation project and the sustained opposition of existing, largely ‘self-regulated’ minibus-taxi operators as key factors which have obstructed the introduction of the proposed regime of ‘regulated competition’. A tentative conclusion is offered to the effect that perhaps a partial or ‘hybrid’ transformation of the public transport system may be the best - and, indeed, possibly the most appropriate - outcome of the transformation process that can be anticipated under the present and foreseeable future circumstances prevailing in the city.     

Strengthening Cooperation Between Hong Kong and the Inland Areas in Communications,Mobilizing Hong Kong′s Functions as an International Shipping Center ——Press Interview With Mr.Huang Zhendong,Minister of Communications

<正>Now is a moment of nationwide joy and jubilanceas the date of Hong Kong’s returning to Chinesesovereignty draws nearer and nearer.On the afternoonof June 12,Mr.Huang Zhendong,Minister of Com-munications,in an interview with reporters,talked onseveral issues that are of great interest to the readingpublic,namely,how the inland areas and Hong Kongcan further strengthen their cooperation in the commu-nications sector and how the functions of Hong Kong asan international shipping center can be fully mobilizedafter Hong Kong comes back to her motherland.