Quantification of Landside Congestion in Ports: An Analysis Based on Gps Data

Abstract

Hinterland transport is a critical segment in maritime cross-border logistics, which links the end-users of global supply chains to the maritime segment. Truck-based hinterland transport is known to cause congestion in and around ports. This study aimed to quantify the congestion caused by trucks at the Port of Colombo, which has not been a subject of a systematic study. To this end, the study makes use of GPS data. In addition to revealing heavy congestion within the port, the study also reveals significant variations in congestion during different times of the day with the duration of journeys peaking from 1200hrs to 1800hrs. Furthermore, the most congested segment of the truck journey is found to be the port exit gate. The findings provide a foundation for appraising infrastructure investments and other related improvement initiatives for easing congestion within and in the vicinity of the port. The study illustrates the potential for data to reveal insights that transcend its original purpose. From a theoretical point of view, the study proposes a novel way of conceptualising the truck turnaround time at ports which goes beyond the confines of the port and is more meaningful for users in the hinterland. The analysis presented in the study is limited to data obtained from a single haulage company.