Corporatization: a legislative framework for port inefficiencies

It is now some five years since the restructure of Australian ports and their transformation into corporatized entities. This strategy was adopted in an endeavour to improve efficiency by distancing government from day to day operations—the element that was perceived by many to be the cause of sub-optimal performance. While there is widespread agreement that port performance has improved significantly, dissatisfaction persists with the continued political intervention which is considered to be the reason for ongoing sub-optimal performance and ports' commercial potential from being realized. This paper investigates some of these issues but argues that political intervention per se should not be the focus of research and what is widely perceived to be the cause of the problem. Rather, that political intervention is an effect of something more endemic, of a legislative framework which may not be appropriate for the operations of a commercially focused port. It is argued that the focus should therefore be on the cause, a legislative framework, rather than the outworkings, or the effects of that framework.     

An integrated framework for carbon footprinting at container seaports: the case study of a Chinese port

The objective of this research is to establish an integrated framework for carbon footprinting (CF) at container seaports (CSs). Three methodological approaches are used in this research: the multiple case study to choose suitable evaluation methods, the case study for verification of the proposed framework, and the quantitative method to calculate the emissions. The proposed integrated framework consists of five modules: policy components, sources structure, input data, emissions estimation and mitigation strategies. The effectiveness of the integrated framework is demonstrated through the practical application in Qingdao Port in China. The case study results in the detailed estimation of CO₂ emissions and detects the problem of data collection and data accuracy for CF and the necessity of stakeholders’ cooperation. The integrated framework serves to evaluate, analyze and control CO₂ emissions from the CS operations.     

Mandatory independent action: a legislative paradox

The US penchant for competition in ocean liner shipping, coupled with the might of lobbyists in Washington, D.C.,led to the introduction of intraconference competition in the form of mandatory independent action. The author analysis this controversial provision and its ramifications, and suggests pragmatic modifications to quell the war of attrition between shippers and carriers.     

Towards port infrastructure adaptation: a global port climate risk analysis

In this paper, a new concept of “port climate risk exposure function along the sea–land boundary axis” is introduced as a critical component towards port adaptation. This concept derived from a global survey which was conducted over 29 countries to assess perceived climate risks to port infrastructure from relevant experts. The methodology used 48 climate scenarios developed based on existing data. Ultimately, this paper serves as a global climate risk indicator to guide further adaptive initiatives in ports.     

Revisiting port pricing; a proposal for seven port pricing principles

A review of seven large landlord port authorities around the world reveals a notable diversity of pricing structures. While port authorities increasingly act as commercial undertakings, port pricing often seems to be not driven by commercial considerations. In this paper, we argue that ports can be regarded as “business ecosystems” with multiple users. This provides a valuable perspective on pricing and raises the question of whether ports can be regarded as two-sided markets. We argue this is not the case. The business ecosystem perspective provides a basis for deducing seven pricing principles for port authorities that are detailed in the paper and illustrated with cases these principles. These pricing principles are broadly follow a direct user pays approach; capture value from “non-core” tenants; price aggressively for activities with a high strategic value; differentiate pricing based on price elasticity and connectivity improvements; maximize revenue from long-term lease agreements, price port dues competitively; critically consider differentiation of charges based on environmental performance; and finally use incentives to align interests of terminal operators and shipping lines. We conclude that the ecosystem perspective is central to the understanding of pricing decisions of port authorities and that various pricing issues deserve more attention.     

A well-functioning port is a stimulus for economy

Until just a few years ago, ports in Europe had a rather wishy-washy image. In the eyes of both the public and politicians, ports were a necessary fact of life.     

Targeting market opportunity for port growth: a CART-based decision support system

Complex decisions, such as those facing port managers when targeting market opportunities for growth, are multifaceted and follow complex patterns of sequential and iterative decision subsets that are not well captured nor represented by current parametric modelling approaches. Nonetheless, understanding how such decisions are made and the patterns they follow have important implications for policy formulation and execution. This paper uses a classification and regression trees (CART) framework—a non-parametric decision trees modelling approach-and develops a decision support system to assist port managers in making effective decisions about market opportunities they should pursue for growth. The CART-based decision support system reveals the predictive structure and complex patterns that the market opportunity selection process follows. It also advances our knowledge and understanding of the interaction and behaviour of the key decision variables and the decision makers in a port context.     

打造绿色之港

通过对散货码头环保设计要素的理解,结合浙江沿海电厂煤炭码头的设计案例,实施煤炭码头污水"零"排放设计,对煤炭防尘设计提出新的思路,强化打造"绿色之港"的理念,指出港口规划、设计和营运应与环境保护紧密联系,实现可持续发展.     

云计算框架下的港口船舶生产信息平台设计与实现

在全球物流业不断提升自身信息化水平和市场经济竞争愈发激烈的背景下,港口作为物流业的重要环节,需要建立灵活高效的信息平台,才能跟上不断变化的市场需求,在激烈的市场竞争中利于不败之地。本文深入研究港口船舶生产的相关业务流程,设计并实现基于云计算框架的港口生产信息平台,提出CECloud-MMS任务调度算法,该算法能有效提高港口生产信息系统效率。     

Environmental sustainability in seaports: a framework for successful innovation

Environmental sustainability in the port industry is of growing concern for port authorities, policy makers, port users and local communities. Innovation can provide a solution to the main environmental issues, but often meets resistance. While certain types of technological or organisational innovation can be satisfactorily analysed using closed system theories, in the case of seaports and in particular in the area of environmental sustainability, more advanced conceptual frameworks have to be considered. These frameworks need to be able to account for the multiple stakeholder nature of the port industry and of the network and vertical interactions that environmental sustainability calls for. This article investigates successful innovations improving environmental sustainability of seaports. The proposed framework builds in part on research concepts developed in the InnoSuTra EU FP7 project. From a methodological perspective, this article develops a method for quantifying the degree of success of innovation with respect to a set of specific objectives. Several case studies are used to test the framework against real innovation examples, such as onshore power supply, or alternative fuels. In this article, we argue that only those innovations that fit dynamically port actors’ demands and the port institutional environment stand a chance to succeed.     

“地主港”模式不适合我国国情

为解决目前国内港口产能过剩的问题,从追溯“地主港”模式在20世纪七八十年代的产生根源和操作方法入手,分析这一建港模式的特点,并结合当前国内港口的发展现状,提出国内不宜推行这一模式的结论。     

Economic policies and seaports: Strategies for port authorities

This paper discusses the strategies which might be adopted by port authorities, given that modern port technologies have considerably limited the scope for competition. It therefore analyses the several forms of competition relevant to ports, any or all of which may apply in any given instance.

It describes the 'minimalist strategy, which consists of recognizing that public sector bodies have many faults, may make many mistakes and that well-intentioned attempts to rectify faults in the private sector may make matters worse. Second, it describes the 'pragmatic' strategy, which involves establishing committees to examine problems and to recommend actions, if they can reach a consensus. Third, it describes the 'public sector' strategy, which involves the port authority taking over all port functions. Finally, it describes the 'competitive' strategy, which involves a careful reproduction of the circumstances of competition, even though there may be room for only one efficiently-sized operator at a time. Franchising, or short-term leasing on any of a variety of competitive bases, so as to produce serial competition is described. Each of these strategies is presented as having its own advantages and disadvantages, and each may be suitable to particular circumstances.     

Shift-share analysis and port geography: a New England example

This paper demonstrates the validity of relative shift technique toward aiding the port geographer/planner in decision-making. The technique can be applied with a minimal of effort and yield diagnostic information concerning port commodity flows. A broad overview of New England's port facilities is presented, and the technique is then applied to an individual port, Boston.     

US port throughput of radioactive materials: a twenty-year study

This study documents that more than a half million tons of radioactive and associated materials, including wastes, were handled at US ports between 1965 and 1984. Although some ports were dominant, radioactive traffic flowed through a large number of ports. An analysis of concordance demonstrates agreement in port rankings over the 20-year period. Large, medium and small ports are identified via a cluster analysis.     

Cruise ship market segmentation: a 'non-traditional' port case study

Market segmentation in the cruise ship industry is an essential tool for securing a favourable market share. A case study of a mid-sized vessel operating from a 'non-traditional' port provides insights of the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of a cruise population. The questionnaire also supports the logic for a strong local/regional marketing effort and validates the rationale for the provision of a cruise service from a 'non-traditional' port.     

Port regionalization: towards a new phase in port development

Logistics integration and network orientation in the port and maritime industry have redefined the functional role of ports in value chains and have generated new patterns of freight distribution and new approaches to port hierarchy. Existing models on the spatial and functional evolution of ports and port systems only partially fit into the new freight distribution paradigm. This paper aims to add to existing literature by introducing a port regionalization phase in port and port system development. It is demonstrated that the regionalization phase and associated hinterland concepts demand new approaches to port governance and a functional focus that goes beyond the traditional port perimeter.     

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.     

Educational technology: Enhancing port training

Continued improvements in educational technologies using CD-ROM and the Internet can enhance student learning in both a face-to-face mode and delivery at a distance. This paper considers the development and use of enhanced educational technologies for port training and education, both within the classroom and at a distance.     

Public preference for the attributes of the marina port in Korea: a choice experiment study

As of late, the Korean government needs quantitative information on economic feasibility analysis for marina port development projects. This study applies a choice experiment to measure public preference for the attributes of marina port in Korea. We consider the trade-offs between price and four attributes of marina port (capacity, access, waterfront, and program) for selecting a preferred alternative and elicit the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) estimates for each attribute. We also test whether irrelevant alternatives property for the estimation model holds and compare the estimation results of the multinomial logit (MNL) and the nested logit (NL) models. The results show that the NL model outperforms the MNL model. In the NL model, MWTPs for increasing the level of a waterfront from promenade to both promenade and rest area and for the provision of marine leisure experience program are KRW13 384 (USD11.8) and KRW17 937 (USD15.8), respectively. This study is expected to provide policymakers with quantitative information for evaluating marina port construction projects in Korea.     

Hinterland strategies of port authorities: A case study of the port of Barcelona

Port authorities generally focus on the development of the local port area and play a minor role in the development of port hinterlands, whereas shippers, forwarders, barge and rail operators have always been involved in the port-hinterland connection. The increasing importance of intermodal hinterland networks for the competitive position of ports has urged port authorities to become active in the hinterland. This new role has already been suggested by different academics. However, limited empirical evidence exists of port authorities taking stakes in inland terminals or developing transport services. Barcelona, as one of the leading port authorities in this respect, is used as a case study in this paper. The case study provides insight in the components and execution of the hinterland strategy of Barcelona. It shows that the strategy of the port authority of Barcelona and the consequent active involvement in the hinterland has had a significant impact on attracting container volumes from distant hinterlands and improving the accessibility of the port.