Container Port Research Articles

Design of buoy network in port water area for monitoring air pollution: A robust optimization approach

Buoy network is a promising technique to monitor air pollution in port water area, which is not limited by terrain and can provide continuous measurements at a low cost. Determining the number and location of buoys is a key issue in the design of the buoy network, however, it is affected by stochasticity of wind direction, wind speed, and emission intensity of ship exhaust. Therefore, a robust optimization approach is proposed to solve the problem of how to design buoy network in port water area for monitoring air pollution, i.e., to determine the number and location of buoys, with consideration of stochastic ship exhaust emissions and wind conditions. First, a bi-objective robust optimization model is developed based on the concept of p-robust to maximize monitoring capacity and minimize costs of buoy network. A method for constructing stochastic scenarios is subsequently proposed by combining Latin Hypercube Sampling, ship emission inventory, and atmospheric diffusion simulation. Then, a solution algorithm integrating Epsilon-constraint and Nash bargaining solution methods is presented to solve the model. Finally, a container port in eastern China is selected as a study case. Finally, the relative regret of the obtained robust layout is less than 13.04%. Results show that improving monitoring capacity and cross-scenario robustness is premised on increasing costs, decision-makers need to balance these aspects and design a buoy network with actual budgets. This study provides insights into how to design a buoy network to monitor air pollution in port water areas, and presents methods to determine the decision solution of a bi-objective robust optimization model, which helps maritime and environmental authorities manage ship emissions in port and coastal regions.

Maritime Data Collection Framework for Container Port Benchmarking

Container ports play a crucial role in global maritime trade by serving as key transportation hubs for the movement of goods. Their performance differs due to unique local characteristics, creating a need for benchmarking to improve. Trends in trade patterns, supply chains and maritime transport operations can substantially impact on the cargo handling requirement at ports and therefore port performance. The aim of this research is two-fold; first, to examine the current situation, main trends and disruptions affecting maritime container transport and ports, and second, to investigate the key criteria for assessing and benchmarking port performance. Regarding the first objective, for the investigation of the global trends in the liner shipping and container port sector, desk research is performed. Regarding the second, a framework is developed by identifying five areas of interest based on the strategic value of data and selecting the best available data. This allows creating a two-layer data framework that enables the collection of data at the country and port level. The developed framework is applied to gather relevant data points for various container ports, and allows drawing conclusions on the performance of the framework. The results of this research contribute to the understanding of container port performance and may serve as a valuable resource for port operators and researchers in the field. By examining the specific factors that influence port performance, this study provides a foundation for enhancing the comparability of container port operational performance.

Port congestion under the COVID-19 pandemic: The simulation-based countermeasures

As the hub connecting global production and consumption, ports play a pivotal role in the global maritime supply chain system. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its rapid global spread have caused significant port congestion, resulting in skyrocketing freight rates and posing a serious threat to the smooth operation of international trade. Based on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have developed a novel container port congestion evaluation model by integrating the classical SEIR model, using the system dynamics (SD) theory. In this study, we simulate the impact of different port congestion countermeasures using data from Ningbo Zhoushan Port. The results demonstrate that implementing smart regulations at a high level of epidemic prevention and control is the most efficient approach to swiftly eliminate port congestion. In addition, it is worth mentioning that in the scenarios with a low level of epidemic prevention and control, increasing port investment to optimize smart ports can yield even better effects. Furthermore, we have discussed the impact of factors such as the ratio of infected people, the number of contacted people, and epidemic prevention and control capacity on port congestion index. Hence, we propose that the implementation of advanced smart regulation systems can enhance port operational efficiency and effectively alleviate port congestion. Additionally, amidst the normalization of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has yet to disappear, it is crucial to maintain a vigilant approach to prevention and control to ensure the seamless operation of the port industry.

Fulfillment of Smart Port Criteria for the Existing Terminal 2 of the New Makassar Container Port

Smart ports are an innovative solution for the world's port industry in the application of integrated technology and environmental sustainability to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operational services. The concept of smart ports is usually widely adapted to container ports because most of the world's trade is carried by sea in containers. Terminal II of the New Makassar Container Port which is a new container port in Indonesia and is expected to develop into a gateway for world trade in Eastern Indonesia in order to improve the socio-economic region is required to innovate and keep abreast of world port trends. Therefore, to support Terminal II of the New Makassar Container Port to develop into a smart port, a study was conducted to determine the extent to which the port met the criteria for a smart port. In carrying out the research, direct observation and interview methods were used with selected respondents at Terminal II of the New Makassar Container Port. Based on the observation results, it was found that Terminal II of the New Makassar Container Port had fulfilled the productivity criteria in the operational domain and the safety and security management system criteria as well as the Integrated monitoring and optimization system.

HUs Fleet Management in an Automated Container Port: Assessment by a Simulation Approach

Freight fleet management (FM) can be defined as an optimization process of freight vehicles scheduling and routing, aimed at reducing time, costs, energy, and environmental impacts. In the specialized literature, there are many FM studies. The focus of this paper is on the FM in the context of a container port to increase the productivity and pursue the sustainability of the logistics node improving the performance by using freight advanced handling units (HUs). The use of automated HUs reduces the time and costs of each port activity, eliminating timewasters and increasing safety; however, it requires advanced intelligent management. Moreover, the automation is in line with energy and environmental sustainability. The paper aims to assess the impacts due to the automation of HUs by using a simulation approach. After a framework of traditional and automated HUs, allowing to highlight their main characteristics, the work considers the organizational problems of a container port and introduces a methodological approach to manage the FM of HUs. Finally, the application to a real context is presented to compare the present configuration of a container port with some project scenarios, considering different levels of automation, as the partial and total replacements of traditional HUs with advanced/automated vehicles.

A Young Eden’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) Wandering in a Busy International Container Port

Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) is one of the least-understood baleen whales, with a global distribution that is almost completely unknown; only a few basic population studies of this species have been reported thus far. On 29 June 2021, a single Eden’s whale was sighted in Dapeng Bay, Shenzhen, a busy international container port. This sighting was the first record of a live Eden’s whale in the area, and it attracted immediate widespread attention. Our research team monitored the whale, nicknamed “Xiaobu” by Shenzhen citizens, until its disappearance. There were 48 sightings of the whale over a period of 50 days during vessel-based surveys from 2 July to 29 August 2021. Xiaobu was mainly sighted in coastal areas with a depth of 8.70 to 16.30 m; it remained 1 km offshore. The whale moved in a small minimum convex polygon range of 44.67 km2 and kernel density estimation range of 87.96 km2. From 2 to 27 July 2021, the whale was sighted near the Liquefied Natural Gas Pier in the eastern part of Dapeng Bay; it moved toward the Yantian International Container Terminal in the western part of Dapeng Bay between 28 July and 25 August, after which it was not sighted again. Its shift from east to west may have been influenced by food distribution and/or a gradual increase in familiarity with the local environment. Aerial vertical photogrammetry estimated a short body length of 7.49 m, indicating a young whale. Based on stranding records from the Chinese coastal area, the Eden’s whale population in Beibu Gulf presumably migrates northward to the East China Sea (approximately 2,000 km northeast) in April, and then returns in December. Xiaobu may have become separated from the Eden’s whale group when whales reached Shenzhen during the northward migration.

Logistics of Smart Port in Ukraine: Problems and Prospects in the Conditions of Sustainable Development

Every day, the global logistics industry faces new challenges – both due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and due to economic instability in global markets. The pandemic and the disruption of traditional supply chains are forcing companies to change their production geography. Accelerated digitization of people's and companies' livelihoods is contributing to the transformation of classical logistics, and in the end, those players who create an environment of additional services for delivery support, thereby forming resilience to risks, are winning. In this regard, there is a need to develop theoretical and applied aspects of the transition of port logistics to sustainable development through the introduction of smart port technologies that contribute to the achievement of a number of sustainable development goals, such as: 1: no poverty, 2: zero hunger, 3: good health and well-being, 8: decent work and economic growth, 9: industry innovation and infrastructure, 11: sustainable cities and communities, 12: responsible consumption and production, 13: climate action, 14: life below water, 17: partnerships for sustainable development. The theoretical basis of the research was scientific works of scholars from different countries and periods in the field of logistics, sustainable development, individual provisions of international framework documents, including the UN Conference on Environment and Development's Agenda for the 21st Century, the Declaration on Environmental Protection, and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development. Official data from the ports of Gdansk, Rotterdam, and Hamburg, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI), the World Bank, and the Administration of Seaports of Ukraine (USPA) were used as initial information for analysis and concluding. As a result of summarizing the theoretical and methodological foundations of logistics, the article proposes the Conceptual Model of the Subject Area 'Smart Port', the quintessence of which lies in the symbiosis of the paradigms of scientific and technical development and sustainable development. This made it possible to expand the existing scientific basis of the transport logistics and transport systems sphere. The prerequisites for the emergence of the smart port are analyzed. The leading container ports of different generations are grouped. Special focus is on Ukraine, one of the largest grain exporters in the World. The prospects for the transition of Ukrainian ports to the fourth category (generation) of development are outlined. To successfully implement the strategy for the development of Ukrainian seaports for the period up to 2038, an optimization management model for logistics processes was developed based on the concept of a gaming approach.

Data-Driven Asset Health Index – an application to evaluate Quay Cranes in container ports

ABSTRACT Ports worldwide seek for more efficient and sustainable operations, relying on critical and valuable assets as their cranes. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies enable a better understanding of critical assets’ behaviour and lifecycle based on data, and development of asset management decision support tools. The Asset Health Index (AHI) is an asset condition score, designed to characterise the state of complex assets. This paper describes the process of developing a data-driven AHI. IoT sensors and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) in real operation time, together with information systems, and other more traditional sources of data are some of the data sources for the AHI. The index captures and quantifies dimensions affecting the asset lifecycle, allowing the comparison of the condition of assets and prioritise maintenance investments. The case study is conducted in Quay Cranes of the Port of Felixstowe (UK) as the object of this study and proof of concept.

Forecasting long - term container port throughput with a regression model: Case of Dong Nai Port - 2050

The forecast of cargo through the port is not only important for port management but also important for infrastructure planning. In recent years, sea container freight has increased quickly. Therefore, the container is through port forecasting models. The research builds long-term containers through port forecasting models applied to the Dong Nai port as a reference. The study has established correlations between important economic indicators from 2010 to 2020, such as total local product, total export and import turnover, industrial, agricultural value, and foreign direct investment with container volume to build a forecasting model. The model is validated by hindcasting containers through Dong Nai port in 2021, and a suitable forecasting model is selected to forecast the container volume until 2050.

Effect of Supply Chain Risk on Port Container Throughput: Focusing on the Case of Busan Port

Effect of Supply Chain Risk on Port Container Throughput: Focusing on the Case of Busan Port

A Study of the Efficiency of Mediterranean Container Ports: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

The current paper presents the results of a study that analyzed and evaluated the efficiency of the largest container ports in the wider area of the Mediterranean Basin. The research question that this paper seeks to respond to is how the resources (inputs) of a container port reflect its level of activity and efficiency. In particular, what is the relationship between ports’ infrastructures, equipment and their productivity and the ports’ ability to attract economic activities as well as the extent of their effect on a port’s efficiency? The methodology uses the data envelopment analysis (DEA) output-oriented model following a cross-sectional approach. The research conducts two modeling approaches, the CCR and the BCC model. The analysis goes deeper and compares port efficiency estimates in relation to medium-sized and large ports’ classification and their total market share. The main findings indicated an average efficiency of 0.88 and 0.89 assuming constant and variable returns of scale, respectively, implying that the ports can increase their output levels up to approximately 1.2 times without any change in their inputs.

Impact of Seaport Competition on Technical Efficiency: Simar–Wilson Analysis of European Container Ports

This paper examines the effects of environmental factors (port-city GDP, population size, connectivity to hinterland, draught level and distance from the closest port Hub) and competition on the efficiency of a number of North and South European seaports. For this purpose, a bootstrap data envelopment analysis truncated regression approach was applied to 35 container ports, in the 2004 - 2018 period. Research findings indicate that the connectivity of a port’s country and draught level have a positive impact on the efficiency of both Northern and Southern European seaports. In addition, our results revealed that the efficiency of Southern European seaports tends to increase with competition intensity, whereas that of Northern European seaports seems to decrease with intensified competition, due to investment discrepancies, necessary for attracting a wider range of customers.

Comparative technical-economic evaluation of offshore container port systems

ABSTRACT The growth trend in the container industry has had a significant operational and infrastructural impact on the ports. In this context, the offshore port systems are expected to be an innovative port system in the effective use of mega container ships by offering operational and structural advantages. This study aims to guide the authorities on whether OCPS is worth investing in, in terms of investment costs. This article also highlights the financial feasibility of an OCPS that can allow countries with difficult nautical access to mega vessels to enter the global trade network. The data in this research were obtained from similar projects and studies with a series of industry assumptions. Overall, these results indicate that OCPS can compete with conventional ports in terms of investment costs, operating costs, and return on investment. Thus, a more sustainable container shipping network can be achieved with the advantages of OCPS.

In practice and in principle: ‘Free market’ discourses and container port reform in Australia

In the 1980s, successive Australian governments began to pursue a program of microeconomic restructuring, taking their lead from the developing ‘free market’ reform projects underway in the United States and the United Kingdom. One of the prominent features of the emerging liberalisation agenda was the commercialisation and privatisation of government-owned companies and assets. In keeping with this trend, over the following decades, a series of changes have been introduced to Australia’s container ports aimed at improving their productivity and efficiency. Drawing on a series of interviews and analysis of governmental and non-governmental reports, the purpose of this study is to examine how port policy has unfolded ‘on the ground’ in Australia. The paper considers some of the ‘common sense’ economic maxims expounded for reform in relation to actual outcomes for industry stakeholders, concluding that principles and practice have diverged significantly and that many of the assumed benefits have failed to materialise.

An empirical study on the economic linkage characteristics of Yangtze River port cities based on discrete second-order derivatives

Abstract Rapid economic development cannot be achieved without a well-developed trade in goods of various forms, so it depends on the construction and development of coastal or inland ports. How to coordinate the relationship between ports and cities in the development process is of great significance to the sustainable development of port cities, and is also an important part of the current research on ports. This paper uses gray correlation model to study the correlation between city economic development indexes and port development indexes, and finds that the correlation between GDP and gross industrial output value and port cargo throughput is the largest, and on the basis of gray correlation analysis, the impulse response analysis finds that the growth of total economic volume and gross industrial output value of port cities has an obvious promotion effect on the development of ports in the short term. The research results show that the value added of Nanjing’s tertiary industry drives the port logistics of Nanjing port most significantly; the growth rate stabilizes at 0.006 after the 11th period. The growth of Nanjing port container throughput on the value added of Nanjing’s secondary industry changes most significantly and finally stabilizes at 0.0035.

Performance Analysis of Terminal II of The New Makassar Container Port in Supporting Logistics Distribution in South Sulawesi

Performance Analysis of Terminal II of The New Makassar Container Port in Supporting Logistics Distribution in South Sulawesi

Towards sustainable port management: Data-driven global container ports turnover rate assessment

Accurate assessment of port turnover rate is essential for port operators and shipping carriers to benchmark and improve their operations. This study proposes a standardized method to estimate the port turnover rate based on satellite data of ocean ships. This method can be generalized to accommodate ports of different geographic and operational characteristics with minimum input and running times. To achieve the research objective, we first construct berth polygon areas for terminals based on Greatmaps (GMap) visual technique. Then, two tailor-made algorithms are proposed to estimate the berthing time of ship in a berthing event. Finally, we assess the port turnover rate with aggregate berthing time at a port and its historical port throughput. Assuming that the turnover rate is unchanged in the short term, we can use the estimated turnover to estimate the monthly throughput of global ports. The findings suggest the average Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of our estimation is 3.84%. Standardized and high-frequency port statistics are highly valued by the industry but very costly to access. The proposed method makes high-frequency port turnover rate and throughput available for a wide range of users. The statistics and findings will enhance standardization and transparency of port statistics and promote the sustainable development of port industry.

Exploring the Failure Mechanism of Container Port Logistics System Based on Multi-Factor Coupling

Container ports are prone to delays, congestion, and logistics interruptions under the perturbation of uncertain events inside and outside the system. This not only affects the service quality of the system but also brings a serious blow to the whole transportation network. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a hybrid Bayesian network (BN) model to investigate the failure mechanism of the container port logistics system. Considering the complex coupling relationship between failure risks, the DEMATEL and ISM methods are presented to thoroughly analyze the interdependence and hierarchical structure of system failure factors. The failure evolution mechanism of the system is then analyzed using BN reasoning ability. The suggested hybrid model can identify the main failure factors, examine how factors are coupled, and produce the main propagation path resulting in system failure. The findings indicate that the risks associated with technology, facilities, and equipment are the most significant and immediate in the system; human risks affect all system components by acting on other factors; organizational management risks have a fundamental impact on the stability of the system; additionally, the uncertainty of external risks has greatly increased the variability of each logistics link. This study provides useful insights for port logistics risk management.

Port container throughput prediction method based on SSA-SVM

To improve the prediction accuracy of the port cargo throughput and the applicability of the prediction model, and then provide data support for the port construction to meet the needs of port decision-making, take the monthly cargo throughput data of Shanghai Port from January 2009 to December 2022 as an example, use Pearson correlation analysis to screen 12 import and export impact factors. This paper improves the traditional SVM model, uses SSA (Sparrow Search Algorithm) to optimize the parameters c and g in SVM, and uses the model to predict. Compared with the model that uses the grid search algorithm to optimize the parameters of SVM, the model has a significant improvement in fitting and robustness, its predicted value is closer to the actual value, the prediction performance is better, and it can better reflect the actual state of the port.

Optimization of Green Containerized Grain Supply Chain Transportation Problem in Ukraine Considering Disruption Scenarios

Grain supply chain transportation problem is a nontrivial and intractable issue for many developing countries. Grain as a bulk commodity is usually transported by bulk carriers. By taking into account the special condition of Ukraine, we proposed the containerized grain supply chain transportation optimization problem. In this problem, the sustainable supply chain system delivers grains in containers among primary elevators, intermodal yards, and port container terminals. Then, a containerized grain transportation model was developed to minimize the total cost of the sustainable supply chain system. Specifically, 20-foot containers were proven as more reasonable to be used in this paper. We also considered different transportation tools: trucks that can load one 20-foot container, trailers that can load two 20-foot containers, and wagons that can hold two 20-foot containers. Additionally, a disruption model was proposed by considering different disruption scenarios. Based on an analysis of the simulation results, some cost minimization strategies were proposed. Finally, a sensitivity analysis that aimed to analyze the effect of the proposed strategies on the minimal total cost and sustainability of the supply chain was conducted. The main conclusions drawn from the simulation are that the established food supply chain model is meaningful and accurate, and the incorporation of the disruption model aligns with practical requirements. Additionally, an increase in intermodal yard capacity, truck park size, and wagon park size decreases the total cost of the supply chain. The first two have a positive effect on the sustainability of the supply chain, while the latter increases the disruption risk of the supply chain.