Improving the Productivity and Sustainability of Port Management Against High Tide and Tsunamis

Abstract

Abstract In 2011, the National Diet of Japan passed a law to implement the policy of “International Container Strategy Ports,” which would be applied to public-built private-management system and private company financing methods to container terminals at the main ports operated by Port Management Bodies which are local governments. It would also establish the port management corporation at each port in order to improve the productivity of container terminals throughout Japan. Port management corporations have already been established at several ports such as “Kobe-Osaka,” “Yokohama-Kawasaki” and “Nagoya-Yokkaichi.” The purpose of establishing these port management corporations for container terminals is to amend the rigid port management system by local governments, and to be prepared to provide a quick response to global economic changes and the wills of cargo owners and shipping companies. Current port management corporations, however, are facing various problems of management. On the other hand, as in the cases of the tidal inundation disaster at Kansai Airport and the port area due to heavy rain in 2018, port management needs to make new capital investment to cope with the issues such as the construction to protect ground structure against high tide and tsunamis. Therefore, the author would like to first analyze the issues that current port management face, and then propose solutions and possible scenarios for improving the productivity and sustainability of port management against high tide and tsunamis.