Delta Port Research Articles

The impact of port green competitiveness on the hinterland economy: A case study of China.

In the global trade landscape, ports are not only critical nodes for the transportation of goods but also increasingly recognized as key factors driving sustainable development through their green competitiveness. This paper takes a green competitiveness perspective to delve into the interactive relationship between port development and the hinterland economy, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and policy recommendations for the green development of ports. An evaluation index system for green competitiveness of ports was constructed, and a combination of the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) and the Entropy Weighted-Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (EW-TOPSIS) method was employed to quantitatively measure and assess the 25 major coastal ports and their hinterland economic systems in China. The study reveals that the overall green competitiveness of these major coastal ports is on the rise, yet notable disparities exist among individual ports. Regionally, the green competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta port group stands out, while that of the Bohai Rim, southeastern, Pearl River Delta, and southwestern coastal port groups is relatively low. Empirical analysis conducted in this paper demonstrates the positive impact of port green competitiveness on the hinterland economic system, particularly its significant role in enhancing the total and quality aspects of the hinterland economy. Furthermore, it was found that the green competitiveness of ports exerts a more pronounced promotional effect on the hinterland economies of the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta port groups compared to that on the Bohai Rim, southeastern, and southwestern coastal port groups. The results of this paper also hold important guiding value for optimizing the allocation of port resources, promoting port technological innovation, and improving port environmental management, contributing to the harmonious coexistence and long-term development of ports and their hinterlands.

Exploring the spatial spillover effects of Yangtze River Delta ports on urban economic growth.

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) ports are pivotal in shaping the Yangtze River Economic Belt and advancing urban economies across China. This article utilizes panel data from 20 cities with ports in the YRD area, spanning from 2011 to 2020, using the spatial Durbin model to explore how these ports influence urban economic growth. The findings indicate that: (1) The YRD ports significantly contribute to economic growth in both the port cities and their surrounding areas, with the indirect impact on neighboring cities being more substantial than the direct effect on the cities themselves; (2) The beneficial spillover effects of the YRD ports on the economic growth of nearby cities vary in intensity over different spatial ranges, marked by distinct boundary effects and geographical attenuation. The influence extends up to approximately 110km; (3) Within the various elements impacting the economic growth of cities in the YRD, financial development prominently exhibits a threshold effect on urban economic growth; (4) Upon analyzing heterogeneity, inland and coastal port cities manifest divergent spillover effects, with inland port cities predominantly exerting a positive spillover on adjacent regions. Accordingly, in order to eventually achieve the shared prosperity of the region's economy, it is recommended that a strong top-level design be established and that efforts be made to transform the YRD region into a core region a diffusion and driving effect.

Comparative study of two selected eastern port operational performance in Nigeria: Case of Rivers and Delta ports

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to compare the operational performance of two selected eastern ports in Nigeria: Rivers and Delta ports. Methodology: The paper uses secondary data from the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Portal from 2008 to 2013. The paper employs multiple regression models to analyze the data using SPSS and Statgraphics software packages. Results: The results show that Rivers port has a higher operational efficiency than Delta port, with an R-squared value of 81.34% and 79.47%, respectively. The results also reveal a significant relationship between cargo throughput and some independent variables, such as vessel traffic, turnaround time, berth occupancy, and number of employees. Theoretical contribution: The paper contributes to the existing literature on port performance measurement and improvement by applying multiple regression models to assess the operational efficiency of two Nigerian ports. The paper also provides empirical evidence on the factors affecting port performance in a developing country context. Practical implications: The paper has practical implications for port authorities, maritime agencies, shipping companies, and the government. The paper suggests some policy recommendations to enhance the operational performance of the eastern ports, such as improving port infrastructure, pricing policy, and strategic competition.

Research on the Carbon Emission Reduction Potential of the Ports in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Green port construction has a profound impact on China’s international climate commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. To examine the carbon emission reduction potential of 20 major ports in the Yangtze River Delta port cluster of China, this study takes the perspective of environmental efficiency and employs dynamic exogenous variable DEA in efficiency evaluation. The results show the increasing environmental efficiency of the ports in the Yangtze River Delta, rising from 0.5116 in 2013 to 0.7276 in 2019. Also, there are significant spatial differences in efficiency. After considering exogenous variable, the average efficiency has increased from 0.5537 to 0.6276, indicating that regional green development is a critical factor in port environmental efficiency evaluation. Finally, the overall efficiency of input and output have risen, the slackness of carbon emission shows a trend of decreasing, and there is great potential for reducing carbon emissions from the perspective of port environmental efficiency. The previous studies paid less attention to dynamic efficiency, exogenous variables, and carbon emission. Therefore, this paper is the first comprehensive examination on the carbon emission reduction potential of China’s Yangtze River Delta port cluster from the perspective of dynamic environmental efficiency.

Analysis on Evaluation and Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Port Cluster Eco-Efficiency: Case Study from the Yangtze River Delta in China

The improvement of port cluster eco-efficiency is of great significance to constructing a world-class shipping hub and the high-quality development of regional economy. This study adopts the Super-EBM (Super-efficiency Epsilon-Based Measure) model to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster in China, and the GML (Global Malmquist-Luenberger) index, spatial hot spot analysis, gravity center migration model, and the Theil index are combined to reveal the spatial-temporal evolution. The results show that the average eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster is 0.686, with 55.6% of the ports being below the average, which is directly related to the low scale efficiency. Mainly driven by technical efficiency improvement, the overall eco-efficiency has a growth rate of 8.7% from 2010 to 2019. Moreover, considerable spatial divergence has formed in the port cluster, and the eco-efficiency gravity center has always been in the south of Jiangsu. The overall eco-efficiency gap has widened by 19.92%, and the gap within the region, particularly within Zhejiang, is the major source. To improve the overall eco-efficiency of the port cluster, policymakers should strengthen the technological spillover of ecologically efficient ports in clean production and mechanism reform, while optimizing the resource consolidation system of ports with relatively low eco-efficiency.

Regional classification and competitiveness of port cluster: a case study of China's coastal ports

ABSTRACT Many studies on port competitiveness try to understand which aspects will affect the competitive performance of ports. However, there are few studies from the perspective of port clusters. This paper, by reviewing the history of port competitiveness research to explain the need for research in the context of port clusters, and construct an indicator system from the perspective of port cluster development in terms of port throughput capacity, scale, development potential and intra-cluster development environment. The entropy TOPSIS method is used to objectively evaluate the competitiveness level of each port within the major port clusters in China and try to improve the Boston matrix model to identify each port type. We found that from 2014 to 2019, cash cow ports such as Shanghai Port, Shenzhen Port, and Ningbo Zhoushan Port maintained great development status. The port competitiveness of the Bohai Bay Port cluster is not prominent, while the port competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster and Pearl River Delta port cluster shows obvious polarisation. The prediction results based on the improved Boston matrix model are consistent with the actual situation of port development, which can assist future decision-making. The results reveal the relationship between cooperation and competition in the process of port integration.

Regional economic losses of China's coastline due to typhoon-induced port disruptions

Port based transportations are key elements governing the operation of global maritime logistics. In China, the southeast coastline suffers from typhoons frequently every year and causes many disruptions to port operations and thus economic losses. Quantitative evaluation of coastal ports' economic losses induced by typhoons is quite demanding and can serve as guidance for port operation planning and disaster prevention. In this paper, a framework based on a hybrid wind numerical model for assessing the direct and indirect economic losses of coastline caused by typhoon-induced extreme wind is proposed. The estimation of port disruptions and their durations is realized based on the typhoon hybrid wind numerical model. For the direct economic losses, this model considers losses to the port based on the loading/unloading operations of containers. The disruption days and economic losses of 31 ports along China's coastline are selected. These include ports from the Bohai Rim Port Cluster, Yangtze River Delta Port Cluster, Southeastern Coastal Port Cluster, Pearl River Delta Port Cluster, and Southwestern Coastal Port Cluster. The analysis takes the record of typhoons from 2006 to 2020 for this investigation. The influence of time-varying variables on economic losses, such as economic growth rate, has been considered. For the indirect economic losses, the input-output models of 11 different provinces (or municipalities) are employed to analyze each sector. Features of adopting a climate model in the economic evaluations are discussed.

Integrated governance of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster using niche theory: A case study of Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port

The integrated governance of port clusters is an important way for economic powers to improve port efficiency and marine economic benefits. As the Yangtze River Delta port cluster is the most densely distributed port cluster with the largest throughput in China's coastal region, further strengthening its integrated governance and enhancing its global influence is a key element of China's strategy to promote the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region. We investigate the niches of Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, both of which are critical ports in the Yangtze River Delta port cluster. The results show that Shanghai Port is superior to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in terms of economic contribution, competitiveness, resource utilization, and sustainable development capability. Meanwhile, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has advantages in natural hardware and resources and has huge development potential. To enhance the economic radiation and international competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster, it is necessary to strengthen integrated governance, form a reasonable division of labor among ports, and achieve win‒win cooperation among ports. In addition, the government should strengthen the overall planning of coastal management, improve the functional positioning of each port, strengthen the integrated management of waterways, and promote the innovation of cooperation models between ports. Finally, the integrated management of the ecological environment of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster should be strengthened, especially the integrated cooperation in marine ecological protection.

Ship Turnaround Time and Vessel Traffic in Nigerian Ports: A Correlation Analysis

The study investigated the correlation between ship turnaround time and vessel traffic in four Nigerian ports of Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar with a view to providing empirical justification for or against the assertion that long ship turnaround time in Nigeria ports is associated with the declining trend of vessel calls at the ports. Secondary data on the ship turnaround time (STRTt) and ship traffic (STt) of the ports were obtained from Nigeria ports Authority (NPA). The data obtained for each of the variables covered a period of 10 years between 2010 and 2019. The statistical tools of correlation analysis and trend analysis were used to analyze the data obtained. It was found that the effects of the of ship turnaround time on vessel calls to ports are port specific, suggesting that factors other than ship turnaround time, such proximity to shippers location, port charges and ship dues, cargo safety, absence of bottlenecks in the customs and clearing process, etc., may interact to influence the choice of ports. The study also found that there is a weak association/relationship between ship turnaround time in ports and ship traffic/ship calls at ports. The result also indicates that the Nigerian ports are far from achieving the global average benchmark ship turnaround time. The Average ship turnaround time in Onne port is about 49% while Delta port is about 92% higher than the global average benchmark of 2days in port. Calabar and Rivers ports have respective 150% and 241% higher ship turnaround times than the global average benchmark. It was recommended that port authorities and terminal operators should work to reduce the high ship turnaround time in Nigerian ports to meet with global average benchmark among other things.

Efficiency Analysis of the Coastal Port Group in the Yangtze River Delta

In recent years, the coastal ports of the Yangtze River Delta have rapidly developed with the progress of science and technology, which has caused some problems on account of the rapid development of ports. On the one hand, there is fierce competition within the same port group; on the other hand, many ports waste resources. This study selected the three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist index models to calculate and analyze the efficiency value of the coastal port group in the Yangtze River Delta; the study was conducted to make a reference for the formulation of the optimization strategy from the perspectives of static and dynamic efficiency. The results show that from the perspective of static efficiency, the comprehensive efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta coastal port cluster is at the upper-middle level. However, it has not yet reached the frontier surface, and the low scale efficiency is why the port group has not been called the frontier surface. From the perspective of dynamic efficiency, the total factor productivity of the Yangtze River Delta port group has increased by 3.6% in the past five years. Technological progress and comprehensive technical efficiency have improved. The optimization strategy was formulated according to the problems faced by the Yangtze River Delta port group and the reasons for not reaching the frontier.

Comparative analysis of port efficiency in Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta: a meta Dynamic D.D.F. approach

The Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta are two regions with the highest level of economic development in China, and their port development is at the forefront of the country. This study measures the efficiency of 23 major ports in the two deltas from 2010 to 2018 using the meta Dynamic Directional Distance Function (D.D.F.) model and discusses the technology gap and the reasons for inefficiency of the ports. The research results show that 80% of the ports in these two deltas are inefficient. The Yangtze River Delta’s port efficiency is higher than that of the Pearl River Delta, but the internal efficiency difference of the Yangtze River Delta port cluster is more significant. The efficiency ranking of most ports is inconsistent under the meta-frontier (M.F.) and group frontier (G.F.), and the average technology gap ratio (T.G.R.) of ports in the Pearl River Delta gradually exceeds that in the Yangtze River Delta. The inefficiency of ports in the Pearl River Delta is caused by input factors, and the inefficiency of ports in the Yangtze River Delta is also related to the containerisation level.

Investigating the Future Dynamics of Multi-Port Systems: The Case of Poland and the Rhine–Scheldt Delta Region

The objective of this paper is to investigate the future evolution of port systems considering the development of major and minor ports, inter-port competition, and feasible cargo shifts resulting from improved capacity or congestion faced by ports. The literature review on port system dynamics indicates that the relationships that emerge between major and minor ports located in the range stem from competition and cooperation. However, we argue that there are essential ports that play a predominant role in shaping these relationships, while inter-port relations in the system are based on competition. With the use of transshipment forecasts, existing and emerging interdependencies among major and minor ports in the system, and capacity development and/or changes in the level of capacity utilisation, the ex-ante dynamics of the port system are evaluated. The subject of research is two port systems, namely, the Polish port system and the Rhine–Scheldt Delta port system. We investigate the future dynamics in each port system and find that the evolution pattern has different features if the minor ports improve capacity or challenge the major ports by offering free capacity. This paper contributes to research on the evolution of multi-port formations and provides new insights to the peripheral port challenge phenomenon.

Integrated Governance of the Yangtze River Delta Port Cluster Using Niche Theory: A Case Study of Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port

Integrated Governance of the Yangtze River Delta Port Cluster Using Niche Theory: A Case Study of Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port

Trend analysis of the productivity of Nigerian seaports

This paper assessed the trend of productivity of the existing six Nigerian ports. Secondary data was extracted from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Annual Reports, Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Annual Reports, and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Annual reports. Using the Data Envelopment Analysis technique, it was discovered that Calabar Port had been under-utilized towards the achievement of the required results. On the contrary, Rivers Port requires technical touches in her operations. As a liquid bulk port, the time of loading and discharging of commodities are often more than any other type of port and the turnaround time at this port are often more. Scale optimization is also required in Rivers Port. Inferentially, Lagos Port has been operating on optimal scale size but fluctuating managerial efficiency was experienced in the operation years. As a matter of findings, Tin Can Island has a similar trend to that of Onne Port with low productivities in the pre-concession period which improved consistently in the post-concession year of 2010 till the year 2015. It was also observed that Tin Can Island Port operated on under-utilization of inputs resources in the pre-concession periods till the post-concession year 2010. This reflects the element of wastefulness concerning both inputs and outputs quantities. Delta Port experienced fluctuating scale and technical efficiency trends in both pre and post concession years. Hence, it is observed that productivities' trends vary among the concessioned Nigerian Ports. These could be as a result of the influence of varied exogenous and endogenous factors on individual Port.

Utilization of Cargo Handling Facilities in Nigerian Seaports

Cargo handling operations are critical to port efficiency. Optimal utilization of cargo handling capacity is a challenge facing most ports in Nigeria and this has had an adverse effect on port operation (i.e. ship and cargo operation). This paper assessed the extent of utilization of cargo handling facilities and infrastructure performance in Nigerian ports. It applied indicators of port facility service and utilization to examine usage of facilities & infrastructure as well as significant constraining factors in six ports namely: Apapa, Tincan, Rivers, Onne, Delta and Calabar ports. The secondary data for the study comprised cargo and vessel throughputs handled in the ports, number of facilities & infrastructure and berth performance measures for the period between years 2006 and 2017. These were augmented with primary data on factors affecting port facility utilization obtained through copies questionnaires administered to a random sample of port users. Our Empirical findings using statistical models showed that on the average, vessels that called for service in the ports spent one and half day before being allocated to berths; spent four days (4) at berth and a total of six (6) days at the port before sailing outwards. In terms of berth utilization for all ports, we found that ship berths were on average, fourty-eight percent (48%) occupied during the study period. When disaggregated by respective ports, berth vacancy rates were higher in Delta ports and Calabar ports in comparison to others; while Apapa, Rivers and Tincan ports had comparatively higher berth occupancy rates. According to the respondents, significant impeding factors to facility utilization and performance were: obsolete plant & equipment, inadequate number of cargo handling equipment, delays in cargo handling procedures and low investments in cargo handling facilities by the terminal operators. Policy implications of the findings were discussed.

Recent performance appraisal of six Nigerian seaports using multivariate and data envelopment analysis

Performance appraisal is a regular check which every organization adapts to regulate the performance of its establishment. It shows the relationships between outputs and input variables in organizations. The objective of the study is to review the performance of six Nigerian seaports between the periods of 2012-2017 by applying Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), General Linear Model (GLM), and Multivariate Analysis (MVA) models. Data collected from Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) statistics covers the periods (2012-2017) for each port. The empirical result shows that the following Seaports performed efficiently: Lagos Port (LP) in 2014, Tin Can Island Port (TCP) in 2014, Onne Port (OP) in 2014, and Calabar Port (CP) in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. The least efficient performed seaport is Delta Port (DP) in 2012. Hence, the most efficient port over the years under study is Calabar Port (CP) while least performed port is Delta Port (DP). The results of the regression model and the multivariate analysis reject the null hypothesis and accept that at 5% level of significance there is a significant relationship between the input variables and output variables of each port, even that P-value is less than 0.005 (P<0.05).

Evaluation of Development Potential of Ports in the Yangtze River Delta Using FAHP-Entropy Model

Port development potential refers to the potential but unrealized status and capacity of ports, which can become a reality when external conditions permit. A correct analysis of port development potential helps to better formulate investment response plans and national development strategies, and finally achieve the sustainable development of the ports. Based on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, basic port data, hinterland city data, traffic network data, and relevant economic and policy data, we constructed an evaluation index system of port development potential, and evaluated the development potential of eight representative ports in the Yangtze River Delta port group of China with the methods of FAHP-entropy (FAHP—Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process). The results show that: (1) The development potential of the port group in the Yangtze River Delta is positioned in the upper middle level; its development prospects are considerable, and other countries or ports could give priority of cooperation with it to maximize its benefits. (2) Port economy and policy are the primary core indicators affecting the development potential of ports, while per capita GDP (gross domestic product), number of berths, and port network status are the secondary core indicators affecting the development potential of ports. (3) Ports with larger development potential usually have one or more outstanding indicators, while the potential of ports with balanced development among all indicators is relatively weak.

1-to-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math> </inline-formula> Ring Power Combiners With Common Delta Ports

In this paper, we present a new 1-to-N way ring combiner that is an adaptation of the ring-hybrid (rat-race) structure. We present the general design guidelines for N-way planar ring combiners based on theoretical analysis of the structures. The proposed 1-to-N way ring structure offers a compact, planar layout that includes a single common delta port. This is beneficial to applications where power monitoring, calibration, or energy recycling can be leveraged. It offers similar loss to other N-way structures. To demonstrate the combiners operation, we present completely passive structures and structures with embedded power amplifiers for 4- and 6-way variants. The designs are optimized for operation in the 5–6 GHz unlicensed bands. The passive 4- and 6-way combiners achieve IL of 1.3 and 1 dB, respectively, with associated port isolations of 1 W.

Estimation of Cargo Handling Capacity of Coastal Ports in China Based on Panel Model and DMSP-OLS Nighttime Light Data

The cargo handling capacity of a port is the most basic and important indicator of port size. Based on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) nighttime light data and panel model, this study attempts to estimate the cargo handling capacity of 28 coastal ports in China using satellite remote sensing. The study confirmed that there is a very close correlation between DMSP-OLS nighttime light data and the cargo handling capacity of the ports. Based on this correlation, the panel data model was established for remote sensing-based estimation of cargo handling capacity at the port and port group scales. The test results confirm that the nighttime light data can be used to accurately estimate the cargo handling capacity of Chinese ports, especially for the Yangtze River Delta Port Group, Pearl River Delta Port Group, Southeast Coastal Port Group, and Southwest Coastal Port Group that possess huge cargo handling capacities. The high accuracy of the model reveals that the remote sensing analysis method can make up for the lack of statistical data to a certain extent, which helps to scientifically analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic changes of coastal ports, provides a strong basis for decision-making regarding port development, and more importantly provides a convenient estimation method for areas that have long lacked statistical data on cargo handling capacity.

Research on Logistics Competitiveness of Yangtze River Delta Ports from the Perspective of Niche

The logistics industry is likened to be the “catalyst” of economic growth. It is one of China’s top ten key revitalization and adjustment industries, and port logistics is the main force to promote regional logistics and regional economic development. This paper, which is based on the niche theory and its corresponding measurement method, establishes the niche evaluation indicator dimension of the development competitiveness of port logistics in the Yangtze river delta. In this paper, the niche width model, niche overlap model, niche suitability and evolutionary momentum model were used to conduct an empirical study on the development competitiveness of nine typical ports in the Yangtze river delta region from 2013 to 2017. Finally, according to the expansion of ecological niche, the separation of ecological niche and the symbiosis of ecological niche, the paper put forward the suggestions for the sustainable development of port logistics in the Yangtze river delta region.