A dynamic model for marginal cost pricing of port infrastructures

ABSTRACT

A dynamic model for marginal cost pricing of port infrastructures links costs to system performance by combining a power-law function with time-dependent queueing analysis. Additionally, the model incorporates the marginal cost of capacity, including the effects of economies of scale. This allows the calculation of the marginal cost price under a dynamic framework. The model accounts for nonlinear behaviour of port demand, which is sensitive to price and service levels. The effects over time of cost and service levels on the port’s operational performance are quantified. The proposed model allows determining the optimal timing for capacity investment. The model is a starting point for the application of marginal cost pricing to ports. However, for practical application of such pricing method it is necessary to apply a system’s approach, as productivity and costs must be assessed at the terminal’s component level. This should allow the derivation of a marginal cost function at the terminal’s component level.     

The role of inland terminal development in the hinterland access strategies of Spanish ports

The aim of this paper is to understand how inland terminals are developed in relation both to ports and to other inland terminals within a national system.The paper builds on previous work developing inland terminal taxonomies and applies them to the Spanish case, with supplementary focus on the relations between the “dry port” and “extended gate” concepts. Theoretical contributions include both the importance of development direction (land-driven vs sea-driven) and the identification of an emerging spatial disparity in port development strategies between coastal and inland nodes.In Spain, ports retain an interest in inland terminals through minority shareholdings but they are not the primary investors. The principal ports using Spanish inland terminals are Barcelona and Valencia, both of which are also developing logistics zones within their ports. Furthermore, while the ports are developing closer IT links with these inland locations, this does not necessarily indicate greater than normal levels of cooperation. A study of the Spanish system thus raises questions about whether the increasing academic focus on “dry ports” actually signals any change in strategies of port development or intermodal terminal operation. Therefore the final aim of this paper is to question the use of the “dry port” terminology.     

Factors influencing container carriers’ use of coastal shipping

Coastal shipping is one of the most sustainable and economically competitive modes of transportation. This study employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to determine the importance of various factors influencing container carriers’ use of coastal shipping. A three-level hierarchical structure with the 17 attributes is proposed and tested. A previous AHP survey in Taiwan has indicated that port policy and infrastructure is the most critical factor influencing the coastal shipping by container carriers followed by operational cost, operational strategy and operational efficiency. Overall, the results indicate that the five most important attributes influencing the use of coastal shipping are simplified customs procedures; leasing a dedicated terminal; transhipment time; a favourable port charge system and efficient terminal operations.     

Experimental uncertainty of a physical model of a tanker moored to a terminal in a port

This paper presents the uncertainty modelling of experimental results for a physical model of a tanker moored to a terminal inside a port. The physical model was built for an oil terminal at the port of Leixões in Portugal. The model incorporates the new modified port layout, as well as a future 300 m extension of the port outer north breakwater to enhance operational conditions. The physical model tests were performed on a scale of 1:80 in the Portuguese Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC). A generic mooring system of four mooring lines and two fenders is simulated using a nonlinear spring system. Decay tests are carried out to evaluate the natural periods of the moored model. Then, tests are carried out for the moored model in waves. The major aim of the experimental study is to obtain novel results for the wave elevation and direction at various locations inside the port, the ship motions at six degrees of freedom, and loads on mooring lines and fenders including the modified port layout. As the physical model measurements are subjected to different types of uncertainties, a systematic uncertainty analysis is carried out here, following ITTC guidelines and recommendations, to quantify all possible sources of uncertainties. The results are discussed, and several conclusions are reached. Based on the experimental results, the presented physical model study may replicate the results for waves and motions with uncertainties less than 9% of the significant amplitudes. The assessment of the applied nonlinear spring model reveals load predictions on the moorings, with uncertainties less than 4% of the maximum mooring loads.     

面向复杂环境的LNG码头合理布局规模仿真案例分析

LNG船舶通过限制性航道进出港时须采取一定的管控措施,具有显著的排他性,布局LNG码头时须确定合理的码头规模,以保障港区各类船舶通航效率。基于多智能体复杂系统的混合模拟仿真建模方法,以宁波舟山港六横港区南侧岸线新布局LNG码头研究为例,建立不同的仿真情境,通过设定的指标进行评价分析,研判在一定通航管控措施条件下六横港区南侧LNG码头合理布局规模,为港口码头布局和岸线合理利用提供决策依据。     

基于DEA模型的港口企业规模效率评估

根据数据包络分析的CRS、VRS、NIRS模型原理,建立评价港口企业规模效率的定量依据,并对扬州港2000-2006年的生产样本数据进行实证分析.通过扬州港各决策单元的DEA有效性和规模收益分析,对其各年份的生产情况进行评价,从而衡量扬州港的生产经营效率状况,有利于港口企业在发展中准确定位,也为港口的投资建设提供决策指导.     

An empirical study of the impacts of operating and market conditions on container-port efficiency and benchmarking

Despite the growing amount of research on container-port efficiency and benchmarking, the literature on the subject is yet to provide stable and consistent results across researchers and in relation to dynamic operating and market conditions. In this paper, we formulate a number of operational hypotheses to test the sensitivity of benchmarking results to port market and operating conditions namely production scale, cargo mix, transhipment ratio, operating configurations, and working procedures. A series of data envelopment analysis (DEA) models are used to measure the operational efficiency of 420 container terminal decision-making units from 2004 till 2010. The results show that variations in operating conditions highly impact terminal efficiency and that future work on container-port performance and benchmarking should take into account the structure and mechanisms underpinning the operations of container ports and terminals.     

单航道多泊位的液化天然气码头建设规模仿真研究

液化天然气(LNG)船舶进出港时通航排他性强,有必要进一步研究LNG码头适宜规模,以科学引导大型LNG接收站建设.基于多智能体信息交互的港口运营系统仿真方法,建立单个LNG港址单向专用航道模型,研究高负荷状态下2～6个LNG泊位时的船舶进出港及接卸作业全过程,评估LNG船舶相互影响状况下的进出港效率.结果表明,基于目前一般通航规则,单个港址LNG泊位数量2个较优,3个相对平衡,不宜超过4个.当达到4个泊位时,船舶进出港效率明显下降,潜在运营风险较高;且随着泊位数量进一步增多,效率会持续下降.     

Book Reviews

The ever-changing environment in which ports operate has put strong pressure on the traditional role of public port authorities. Market developments have created the need for ports to be part of wider logistics networks and to provide value-added services. Powerful private players who are organised on a global scale, such as carriers, terminal operators and logistics service providers, struggle to gain control over port-oriented logistics networks whereas port authorities very often seem to remain local spectators with limited influence on these market-driven processes. Port authorities are on the other hand, the focal point of criticism from societal interests such as local government, NGOs and citizens for negative externalities related to port development and port operations even if these do not always fall within their direct responsibility. In 1990, Richard Goss questioned, albeit rather rhetorically, the need to have public sector port authorities. Since then scholars have demonstrated a true renaissance or renewed interest in the role of port authorities, recommending repositioning and development of new strategies. Parallel to the concept of the ‘renaissance man’, which is defined as a person who is well educated and excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields, a kind of ‘renaissance port authority’ is emerging from literature which may take on a variety of facilitating and even entrepreneurial tasks. The purpose of this article is to develop a conceptual framework for the various options at hand, based on an extensive literature review of port authority functions. The framework also identifies the principal governance-related factors that may in practice enable or prevent port authorities, particularly in Europe, from assuming the renaissance ambitions advocated by scholars. The hypotheses developed in this article form the basis of a wider empirical research agenda into reform of port governance in Europe and elsewhere in the world.     

基于位序-规模法则的区域港口群发展演化规律

为合理利用港口资源、减少恶意竞争,提出基于位序-规模法则的港口群发展演化规律研究方法。以吞吐量为衡量港口规模的指标,以变异系数、基尼系数等指数研究区域港口群规模差异,以首位度指数判断区域港口群是否服从位序-规模分布,进而基于位序-规模理论研究区域港口群规模分布,定量分析区域港口群发展演化规律。实例分析以欧盟港口群为研究对象,结果表明:欧盟港口群规模差异较大,不均衡程度会逐年增大;欧盟港口群符合位序-规模法则,随着港口位序由高到低,吞吐量增长率会随之减小。     

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.     

液化天然气码头选址关键因素

根据实际工程经验,并结合工作开展中涉及到的问题,对影响液化天然气码头选址的关键因素进行探讨,包括项目与城市和港口总体规划的关系、地理位置、自然条件、建设方案及投资、运营条件、施工条件、社会依托条件、港务管理设施及水平、对周边工程的影响等因素。同时针对实际选址工作中遇到的问题进行探讨,强调运营条件的重要性,为以后的液化天然气码头选址工作提供参考。     

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.     

Impact of politics,economic events and port policies on the evolution of maritime traffic in Chinese ports

The Chinese government has been exploring various paths to find a direction that better suits China’s national conditions during the past 60 years. Meanwhile, a series of political and economic events and policy transformations have had different effects on the port industry. This article attempts to ascertain how these events and port policies have influenced Chinese port traffic through an empirical study on data covering 1952–2009. The findings suggest that foreign trade has been the prime driver of the throughput of Chinese ports. The increase in the ports’ throughput has enabled an increase in domestic demand and the urgent need for further port investment. Chinese port throughput has been subject to multiple shocks. The Great Leap Forward¹ is found to have had the largest, but only a short-term impact. China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, however, led to a longer and exclusive effect on ports, with little observed effect on the other variables. The reform of port governance is shown to have had a more lasting positive effect on port throughput than physical investment. However, these latter effects are minor, the economic and political factors remain the primary driving factors of port throughput.     

台湾海峡铁路轮渡码头选址与建设方案

建设台湾海峡铁路轮渡码头,尽快实现两岸铁路互联互通,是京台高铁及台湾海峡海底隧道建成前的过渡性最优方案。参考国内类似项目建设经验,分析码头特点与选址原则,论证设计船型与建设规模,提出港址比选论证建议探讨码头总体设计方案,提出需研究解决的重点与难点问题,为项目规划和建设提供借鉴。     

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.     

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.     

码头自动化过磅系统改造方案

在港口散货码头的生产装卸过程中,会涉及到大量的集疏港作业,运输车辆短时大量集中过磅会导致道路拥堵,影响运营效率.在分析相关生产作业流程基础上,针对原过磅管理系统存在的问题,提出一种码头自动化过磅系统改造方案.     

Operational performance evaluation of major container ports in the Asia-Pacific region

If international container ports are to gain a proper appreciation of their various advantages, disadvantages and potential opportunities in a globally competitive environment, it is essential that they conduct effective evaluation of their operational performance. The present study applies five models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to acquire a variety of complementary information about the operational efficiency of major container ports in the Asia-Pacific region and to identify trends in port efficiency. The study first establishes the causes of inefficiency on the basis of efficiency value analysis. Slack variable analysis is then used to identify potential areas of improvement for inefficient ports. This is followed by the utilization of return to scale analysis to assess whether each port is in a state of increasing, decreasing, or constant return to scale. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify which input or output variables have larger weights in terms of efficiency. The results provide valuable information for port managements in their attempts to establish competitive strategies for the future and to improve their resource utilization for ongoing improvements in operational efficiency.     

基于计算机仿真技术的大型原油接卸码头通过能力研究

依托广东省某大型原油接卸码头工程实例,系统分析影响大型原油接卸码头通过能力的影响因素,对原油船舶从到达锚地、进入航道、靠泊作业、卸油作业、离泊作业以及船舶离港避风避浪等船舶的全过程进行详细建模,在考虑潮汐、风浪雾、航道管制规则等影响因素的基础上,建立了大型原油接卸码头港航系统仿真模型,并基于港口服务水平评价指标对码头合理通过能力进行科学论证,为大型原油码头的建设提供科学参考。