Debt—equity conversion and port privatization

Port privatization has been perceived as an instrument for the improvement in port management operations and marketing, yet it also provides a major opportunity for public debt reduction by converting debt incurred in port development into equity or other assets. There are many different ways in which debt, particularly foreign debt, can be converted. It can be directly converted into equity, it can be swapped for other debt, converted into various portfolio investments or exchanged for future services or exports. In recent years, 'ecological' swaps have also been considered in which some debt is written off in return for improvements in environmental management. This paper reviews the reasons for port privatization, the different methods for port ownership financing, and the role debt-equity conversion could play in it.     

民营化,港口建设的一帖良药?

南某省港口管理局的负责人,面对记者关于港口民营化的质询,作如下答复:码头经营确实是朝阳产业,赢利产业,收益稳定,不会大起大落,但要50年才会见效益,投资大、见效慢、周期长,所以吸引外资容易,吸引民间资本很难.     

Potential port responses to new information systems on ships

Innovations in information technology, satellite navigation and hydrography are making it technically possible for commercial ships, run by very small crews, to be navigated in the world's seas and oceans with positional accuracies measured in tens of metres. If shipping lines do make the necessary investment in technological hardware, training, operational readjustments and data acquisition, and are also allowed to exploit the full potential of GPS, it will not be surprising if they then expect the ports to provide levels of information that allow the ships to exploit their new capabilities right up to the berth. Ports wishing to hold or improve their perceived service quality in the competitive port league will need to consider whether, and how, they can meet the shipping lines' requirements.

The introduction of strict product liability law adds a new dimension to the assessment of commercial risk in the various technological possibilities available to the ports. The possible costs involved in cases where third party data processors, software producers and electronic chart hardware manufacturers all stand between the port's data output and the user's perception and use of it, in a completely ephemeral form on a screen, need to be considered carefully. Simpler forms of data transmission, such as via traffic advice broadcast or by pilots in person may be seen as the more prudent choice in the five to ten year horizon.     

我国港口建设PPP模式的思考

为应对港口基础设施投资主体多元化的趋势,从基础设施的投资来源入手,分析我国港口投融资现状及其存在问题,介绍PPP模式的优势,并以香港迪斯尼融资模式为例,分析PPP模式在港口投融资过程中的特点与可行性,对PPP融资模式在我国港口基础设施建设中的应用与实践提出若干建议。     

Policy making and planning for the port sector: paradigms in conflict

Policy making is a complex and diverse process—particularly in relation to the provision and location of port and port related infrastructure. The planning stage of port infrastructure, or indeed transport planning more generally, may be finalized only to experience policy failure as implementation of the planned facility cannot be successfully completed. When this occurs planning and implementation failure is invariably perceived to be driven by a political agenda and it is argued that 'politics gets in the way'—that politics 'distorts' a scientifically rational planning process. Is it the case that politics 'gets in the way'? Or that politics distorts a technical and scientific process? Or is it the case that planning constitutes only one part, but an integral one, of the policy process—a process that is inherently political? And if that is the case, can we legitimately separate the planning process from that of policy making? This paper discusses the fundamental differences between the planning and policy-making processes. It argues that transport planning is one element in a broader process of policy making which incorporates political and other social/economic/environmental elements. It will argue that planning is a fundamental part of the policy-making process and, if successful completion is to be achieved, it cannot be divorced from that process. The paper will provide a conceptual framework which will incorporate these apparently conflictual activities. This model, if adopted, is likely to enhance both the planning and policy-making processes.     

Rethinking maritime privatization in Africa

While recognizing the need for increased participation of the private sector in the maritime industry of developing countries, there is a need to go beyond the call for privatization in terms of mere change of ownership from state to private sector as the only solution to the inefficiency of the maritime industry in developing countries. This limited understanding of the maritime problems of these countries abounds in the literature on maritime privatization. This study departs from this approach and focuses on the political economy of the maritime industry, and suggests that maritime privatization will not necessarily result in increased efficiency of the divested maritime enterprises. Rather, it argues that maritime problems in these countries have less to do with ownership than with the structural constraints in world shipping together with internal management and local ~olitics. The maritime industrv in West and Central Africa is used as a case studv. and recommendations such as selective privatization, 'programme contract', and most importantly, corporatization, are suggested as alternative strategies that could enhance maritime privatization and the development of the maritime industry in developing countries.     

Private sector involvement in urban rail: Experience and lessons from South East Asia

Various models for competition and ownership of urban rail systems have been used in South East Asia cities since the early 1990s. The paper reviews and classifies the approaches used in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. The planning, financing, procurement, implementation and operation of these systems, and the institutional context for them, are examined. All of the systems that have used private sector finance for the development of the initial systems have faced financial problems. Optimism bias in demand forecasts and unrealistic expectations for cost recovery of capital intensive systems have been contributing factors. Lessons to be learned include the importance of clear government leadership and sound institutional arrangements, and the need for improved understanding of the best manner in which the private sector can be used to achieve efficient and effective rail projects.     

洋山:让上海港如虎添翼

在我国这样一个市场巨大、腹地辽阔的国家,特别是长三角地区,如果没有一个国际航运中心,在国际分工与竞争中就会处于被动地位。近百年内天然水深都将保持在15米左右的洋山深水港,不仅能从容接纳当前世界上最大型的8500标箱集装箱船,也能满足明年出现的吃水14.5米的万箱“巨无霸”集装箱船的停泊,是上海竞争国际航运中心打出的一张“王牌”。刚刚开港的洋山深水港区是本年度上海向国际航运界献上的又一份大礼。     

船长文献--澳大利亚进港指南

澳大利亚政府非常重视环境保护和船舶安全,基于环保政策和理念,澳大利亚海事安全机构严格检查所有进入澳大利亚水域的船只.对一位经验丰富的船长多次进出澳大利亚港口的实践经验进行总结,提供了最新的进港信息和实用的操作方法,可作为海员及研究人员的参考资料.     

浅谈如何管理好港口设备

根据汕头港设备的使用和保养、基础管理、零配件供应、维修等设备管理现状,提出了从思想素质、技术素质入手,完善各项规章制度,做好港口设备维修、保养工作的对应措施。     

连云港港口枢纽经济发展路径

为积极融入一带一路倡议,加快打造一带一路合作倡议标杆和示范项目,界定港口枢纽经济的内涵,构建港口枢纽经济体系,并提出连云港港口枢纽经济的发展路径。按照发展路径,提出五大实施样板:打造一带一路交通标杆示范样板――重点建设新亚欧陆海联运通道,打造苏北运河―淮河流域运输结构调整样板――重点建设海河联运体系,打造综合物流集聚区样板――重点推进上合物流园建设,打造港产园联动发展样板――重点推进徐圩港产园联动发展,打造现代航运服务发展样板――重点推进连云国际航运服务集聚区建设。     

第四代港口大连港的海域安全管理

为提高第四代港口的海域安全管理水平,根据大连港老码头的经验,结合实际情况,总结出船舶在码头安全停靠的主要影响因素。针对影响因素提出实现海域安全管理的措施:明确海域界线,维护合法用海;加大监管力度,形成管理机制,打造安全港口;利用高科技手段实施水深监管;提高破冰能力,减少船舶冰困发生;做好爆破施工警戒,确保通航安全。     

如何做好港口企业专利管理工作

介绍了现代港口由于专利涉及面广,决定了其专利管理工作的特点,本文对港口企业专利管理工作内容与做法进行了阐述。     

船长文献——澳大利亚Cape Flattery港进港指南与靠泊操作要点

澳大利亚Cape Flattery港情况特殊,无拖船协助,给靠、离泊带来许多困难。总结了长期航行于此港至东亚航线的经验和体会,供航海人员参考。     

Vertical integration and its implications to port expansion

ABSTRACT

Over the years many shipping lines have established terminal operation companies, with some set up as independent firms. However, port authorities and local governments have not always welcomed external investment and control with open arms. The economic implications and each stakeholder’s best strategies remain unclear. This study develops an analytical model in order to study the effects of vertical integration, with a focus on shipping lines’ investment in ports’ capacity. Modelling results suggest that vertical integration between terminal operator and a shipping line leads to higher port capacity, port charge, market output and consumer surplus. It also reduces delay costs. All these results suggest that vertical integration can be an important source of synergy for the maritime industry. Although vertical integration increases the participating carrier’s output at the expenses of non-integrating rival shipping firms, our numerical analysis suggests that the overall social welfare is likely to increase. Preliminary empirical tests confirm that vertically integrated ports handle more traffic volumes and are associated with better infrastructure and equipment. Therefore, port authorities and government regulators should carefully review the market competition status as well as port expansion plans.     

物联网技术对港口生产力的影响

为提高我国港口的竞争力,从港口管理的角度出发分析物联网的关键技术和工作原理,从生产力角度对物联网技术在我国港口生产管理领域的应用现状进行评析,并根据生产关系的转变,提出物联网在我国港口生产管理领域的发展方向和推广方案,最后,从物联网技术对港口生产业务流程的影响出发,分析由此引发的生产关系的转变和生产力的发展。     

构建和谐港口：上海港正着力破题

2007年开局，着力构建和谐港口是上海港口管理局今年确定的一大工作主题。按照整体思路，港口主管部门将围绕群众“三最”利益问题，切实转变职能，创新和改进管理，破解难点、热点。在日前举行的新闻发布会上，上海市港口管理局宣布了近期出台的四项举措，包括落实“三岛”（崇明、长兴、横沙）农民工平安返乡，对水路客运实行运管费优惠措施；推进内河渡口、渡船改造项目实施，以及加大黄浦江上游浮吊船整治，解决市民关心的内河水运噪声问题等。     

站在时间之前打造钻石级港口——唐山港总体规划简述

唐山港是20世纪80年代后期～90年代初期，由唐山市人民政府组织投资兴建、逐步发展起来的新兴港口。早在1919年，孙中山先生在其所著《建国方略》中就提出，在唐山乐亭地区建设“与纽约等大”、“为世界贸易之通路”的“北方大港”。并成立了“北方大港”建设筹委会，进行了总体设计和外业勘察。但由于民国时期内忧外患、连年战乱，上述宏大的设想始终未能付诸实现。     

Coastal port reform in China

This paper reviews reforms that have been happening to the China coastal port industry. It covers the economic background, motivations and progress of the reforms, and discusses issues associated with relevant planning events, such as the National Layout Plan for Coastal Ports. It is concluded that the reforms are necessary for the industry to raise funds for infrastructure expansion and to enhance the industry efficiency, and that China has adopted appropriate steps to change the industry governance and to pass relevant plans in the reform process.     

Association rule learning to improve deficiency inspection in port state control

ABSTRACT

The inspection of foreign ships in national ports is a critical measure in port state control (PSC), preventing substandard ships from entering national ports. Multifarious inspection items, limited inspection time and inspector manpower are challenging PSC inspection. This research applies data mining to analyze historical PSC inspection records in Taiwan’s major ports to extract potential valuable information for PSC onboard inspections. Using the Apriori Algorithm, the analysis identifies many useful association rules among PSC deficiencies in terms of specific ship characteristics, such as ship types, societies, and flags. The general rules identified show that the items ‘Water/Weathertight conditions’ and ‘Fire safety’ are significantly related. Besides, in the analysis of the various ship types, several different rules are found. After comparing the analysis of ship types and ship societies, it can be observed that the association rules for specific ship types, such as oil tankers, have a better effect than those for individual ship societies do. These identified rules can not only help inspectors effectively spot the associated deficiencies, but also improve the efficiency of PSC inspection. The ports other than Taiwan’s ports can apply a similar analysis method to identify corresponding association rules suitable for their own inspections.