The changing structure of the UK port industry and its impact on stevedoring costs

This paper examines the impact the changing maritime technology has had on the structure and development of the UK port transport industry. In particular, it describes the major institutional changes that have occured in response to technological and other developments and the influence these have had on the cost structure of individual stevedoring operators. Finally, it describes the resultant pricing policies adopted by stevedores and concludes that these have been exacerbated by the failure of successive governments to adopt sound and consistent policies towards the industry.     

The vagrant ethic: Need for a sea-lane philosophy

Although considerable progress has recently been made in the evolution of marine traffic procedures in coastal and waterway areas, mariners are finding difficulty in coping with the diverse traffic schemes that have so far been devised. This paper is a plea for international and logical marine traffic management, so that ships can operate safely and efficiently within a framework of the proliferating offshore zonal legislation that we are now witnessing.     

Computer-Simulation of the Dynamical Curving Behaviour of a Railway-Bogie

This paper describes the modelling of a two axle railway-bogie with variable design configurations and its application in the investigation of the behaviour in transitional and circular curves. Several results indicate possibilities to improve the curving properties and recommend the usage of forced-steering bogies, which show better performance in narrow curves without unbearable sacrifices to high-speed-behaviour on straight track.     

Privatisation and the quality of rail services

Using the concept of generalised costs to reflect quality in rail services, we consider the level of provision and quality of these services in the various forms they may take in a privatised environment within a model where we assume linear and separable demand and cost functions for analytical simplicity. Using the Pareto-efficient output and quality outcomes under a fully integrated system for reference (as well as those for a fully integrated profit-maximising monopolist) we show that if either bilateral monopoly or complementary monopoly emerge as a market structure the output of train services and their quality will generally fall. In the case of the emergence of both bilateral monopoly and complementary monopoly our analysis again suggests poor welfare outcomes. The implication that can be drawn from our analysis is that a regulator of a privatised rail system faces some severe problems if she is to attain the appropriate welfare targets.     

A maritime productivity study 1859-1919

This is one of two papers designed to test the ability of a theoretical model of productivity measurement [1] with times series empirical data. The analysis was able to identify trends in productivity growth for sailing ships and stcamships. scparating long and short run components . One of the interesting features of the findings is that the long run growth rate is the same for both sailing and steamships. Although sail and steam appear to be two unique technologies, it is found that technologica progress is evolutionary not revolutionary.

The techique using covariance analysis proved useful for times series productivity measurement.     

An assignment principle for urban networks based on travel budgets

A new assignment principle for traveler behavior in an urban network is described which is based on empirical findings in the theory of travel budgets. It characterizes the distribution of travelers, demand, and modal split. It treats all travel decisions (whether to travel, where to go, how to get there) and the important costs (time and money) in a single, unified way. A numerical technique is proposed and it is applied to several examples to illustrate qualitative features.     

Link choice proportions from trip distribution and assignment models: An overview and comparison

A number of estimation procedures have been suggested for the situation where a prior estimate of an origin-destination matrix is to be updated on the basis of recently-acquired traffic counts. These procedures assume that both the link flows and the proportionate usage of each link made by each origin-destination flow (referred to collectively as the link choice proportions) are known. This paper examines the possibility and methods for estimating the link choice proportions. Three methods are presented: (1) using ad hoc iteration between trip distribution and traffic assignment; (2) combining trip distribution and assignment in one step; (3) solving a new optimization problem in which the path flows are directly considered as variables and its optimal solution is governed by a logit type formula. The algorithms, covergencies and computational efficiencies of these methods are investigated. Results of testing the three methods on example networks are discussed.     

A regression model for bus running times in suburban areas of winnipeg

To plan new bus routes in suburban areas, expected bus running times on these routes are needed. Using most readily available relevant variables, a regression model is developed for estimating bus running times. The model is conceptually reasonable and it was tested using data other than that used for estimation.     

Optimum throughput and performance evaluation of marine terminals

The performance of marine terminals has generally been evaluated by comparing their actual throughputs with their optimum throughputs. The engineering approach that generally has been used to determine optimum throughputs may be appropriate when terminals have natural hinterlands. In a deregulated (competitive) environment in which the natural hinterlands of marine terminals have become diffused, the economic approach for determining optimum throughputs should be condiered. In such an environment, marine terminals are not only concerned with whether they can handle a given amount of cargo but also whether they can compete for such cargo.