Port Infrastructure Research Articles

Analysis of Financing Issues in China's Port Infrastructure Construction under the Background of Intelligence

Analysis of Financing Issues in China's Port Infrastructure Construction under the Background of Intelligence

Impact Assessment of Ports and Effluent Discharge on Macrobenthic Communities in Indian Coastal Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACTThe burgeoning industrialization and urbanization along the Indian coastline have led to an increased prevalence of port infrastructure and effluent discharge, raising concerns about their potential impact on the delicate macrobenthic communities in coastal ecosystems. This comprehensive review aims to evaluate and synthesize existing literature on the ecological repercussions of port activities and effluent discharge on macrobenthic organisms in Indian coastal regions. The study encompasses a thorough analysis of relevant research articles, government reports, and scientific databases, focusing on diverse ecosystems such as estuaries, mangroves, and open coastlines. The review discusses the various stressors associated with port operations, including dredging, habitat alteration, and chemical contamination from effluent discharge. Furthermore, it explores the response mechanisms of macrobenthic communities, encompassing changes in species composition, abundance, and diversity. Special attention is given to the potential long‐term impacts on ecosystem functioning and services. The synthesis of available data enables the identification of knowledge gaps and the formulation of recommendations for future research and management strategies. Understanding the cumulative effects of port activities on macrobenthic communities is crucial for developing sustainable practices and policies to mitigate adverse impacts while fostering the resilience of coastal ecosystems in the face of anthropogenic pressures. This review contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the ecological consequences of human activities in Indian coastal areas, providing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and environmental managers alike.

Contesting the Anticipated Infrastructural City: A Grounded Analysis of Silk Road Urbanization in the Multipurpose Port Terminal in Chancay, Peru

A new private port and logistics complex is under construction in the city of Chancay, located north of Lima, Peru, as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promising to change life in the city while expanding a Sino-centric globalized economy and Peru’s reach within it. Through a series of interviews conducted between 2020 and 2022 and document analysis, we seek to offer a grounded theorization of how the BRI, as an exemplar of infrastructure-led urbanization, interweaves with broader sociospatial and socionatural transformations, affecting the present and future of the places where it materializes. By using the concept of the infrastructural city we show how the combination of port and logistics infrastructures with spatial interventions in periurban space is guiding contemporary urbanization, resulting in the formation of a new, amorphous city that has as its defining characteristic the domination of infrastructure over urban life, eradicating prior functions and marginalizing local grievances to facilitate the creation of a privatized enclave for international trade. Our analysis provides insights into the intricate and multifaceted geographies of emerging Chinese-sponsored infrastructural strategies, the hopes and struggles that contextually shape them, and the potentially distinctive and contested urban features of the anticipated infrastructural cities yet to come.

Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea under Croatian Law

The quantity and volume of hazardous and noxious substances transported by ships as cargo have been increasing markedly. The trend is anticipated to persist and even accelerate in the Adriatic Sea due to the expansion of port infrastructure. Concomitantly with this expansion, the probability of incidents involving these substances, which have the potential to cause significant damage, is also on the rise. At present, the Republic of Croatia lacks the specific legal framework that would provide a comprehensive legal basis for liability, prompt, and adequate compensation for damage to persons and property, liability for clean-up, and reinstatement measure costs, and economic losses resulting from the transportation of such substances by sea. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the provisions of Croatian law that regulate liability and compensation in the event of such an accident. The analysis demonstrates the deficiencies of fragmented approach. Moreover, the paper examines the stipulations of the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea of 2010, and the prospective advantages of its ratification. These include double-tier liability, a special regime of limitation of liability, compulsory insurance of liability and the right to direct action. In consideration of Croatia's maritime and tourist-oriented economy, the authors highlight the country's substantial interest in not only the ratification of the 2010 HNS Convention and paving the way to its entry into force, but also in amendments to the Croatian Maritime Code in that respect.

Prioritizing port resilience drivers and strategies: a case study of Chilean ports

ABSTRACT Disruptive events increasingly challenge global port operations and infrastructure, emphasizing the need for robust resilience plans to maintain operational continuity during crises. Designing effective resilience strategies in port operations involves prioritizing key drivers and strategies by establishing a hierarchical structure and analyzing their systemic interactions. This paper proposes a methodology to prioritize resilience drivers with its strategies by considering multiple key port stakeholders. This approach aims to create a roadmap for implementing these drivers, providing ports with a comprehensive tool for planning and executing resilience strategies. The methodology integrates the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) with Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM). To illustrate its development, a case study focusing on two primary stakeholders, terminals and port authorities, in the Chilean port context is presented. The findings reveal that the main resilience strategies in Chilean ports include remote access to information by port authorities, alternative transport modes for port access and exit, rescheduling dispatches and cargo reception by port terminals, communication and call chains of the port authority, and remote access to information by port terminals. These results offer practical implications for port operations, providing clear guidance for implementing resilience strategies.

“They Are Taking the Sea from us” - Maritime Extractivism, Dispossession and Resistance in Rural and Ethnic Communities of the Colombian Caribbean

This article provides an overview of the impacts of the current Colombian extractivist development model on peasant, Afro-descendant, and Indigenous communities’ territorial seas ( maritorium) in the Colombian Caribbean. We reflect on the implications of a gradual penetration of concepts such as the blue economy in national public policy. The impacts of activities such as port infrastructure, oil drilling and mining, tourism and industrial fishing, are briefly analyzed, using examples gathered in different parts of the region where growing dispossession is evident. The article ends with a reflection on the various forms of resistance employed by these communities today to confront the plundering of their living spaces associated with coastlines and the sea.

Comparative Analysis of Financial Optimization Scenarios for PV and Battery Storage Integration at Heraklion Port

The rapid expansion of renewable energy, driven by reduced installation costs, technological advancements, and political support, necessitates efficient integration strategies. This study presents a comparative analysis of financial optimization scenarios for the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery storage at Heraklion Port. By evaluating multiple strategies, the research addresses the economic viability, cost-benefit ratios, and payback periods of different configurations. This analysis considers the broader context of increasing pressure on electricity grids and the need for sustainable solutions to manage dispersed renewable production and energy offsetting. The findings aim to provide insights into optimal investment strategies that balance financial performance with energy efficiency, thereby mitigating costs passed on to consumers and supporting the goals of energy transition and sustainability in port infrastructure.

Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research on Port Infrastructure Vulnerability to Climate Change (2012–2023): Key Indices, Influential Contributions, and Future Directions

This article analyzes the climate vulnerability of seaports through a bibliometric review of 45 articles published between 2012 and 2023. The research highlights the increase in publications focusing on the vulnerability of port infrastructure to climate impacts, a topic that previously received less attention compared to operational, economic, and logistical factors, which are frequently discussed in the existing literature. The analysis reinforces the relevance of this study, with the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom emerging as the most influential countries in this research area. This article also reveals the predominance of methods based on the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI), which includes ports in its assessments, and emphasizes the need to develop a more robust index for evaluating port vulnerability. Additionally, it discusses current topics, such as sea level rise and the use of global climate models and suggests future research directions to enhance the assessment of port vulnerability in the face of climate change.

Spatial-temporal characteristics of port infrastructures on sulfur-oxide concentrations of coastal port in China

Port infrastructure is an important guarantee to support the development of shipping trade and a main link to connect shipping routes, where its construction and expansion promote economic progress whereas exacerbating regional pollution. Based on the panel data of 18 above-scale coastal ports in China from 2005 to 2020, the spatial characteristics and correlation of sulfur-oxide (SOX) concentrations are first analyzed, then the spatial Durbin model (SDM) is established to evaluate the extent of port infrastructure's impact on the concentrations, further the intermediation effects of three dimensions on the concentrations are explored. From the outcome, the influences of port infrastructures on the SOX concentrations are from decreasing the SOX concentrations through improving the operational efficiencies and increasing the SOX concentrations by adding the operational equipment, which also shows significant spatial spillover effects. In addition, the mechanical dimension as a mediation makes the trade dimension have an indirect effect on the SOX concentrations. This paper employs a spatial econometric model to analyze panel data from 18 coastal ports and ports of higher tiers in China, spanning from 2005 to 2020. It uncovers the intricate mechanism by which port infrastructure influences SOX concentration, thus providing a scientific foundation and decision support for environmental protection and sustainable port development.

ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ И СОЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ ВНЕДРЕНИЯ БИОМЕТРИЧЕСКОЙ ОПЛАТЫ ТРАНСПОРТНЫХ УСЛУГ В СЕВЕРО-ЗАПАДНОМ ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОМ ОКРУГЕ

The article discusses the economic and social aspects of the introduction of a biometric payment system in the trans- port infrastructure of the Northwestern Federal District. The potential benefits and risks associated with the protection of per- sonal data and the security of the systems used are analyzed, as well as expected changes in the convenience and effective- ness of such a payment method for end users.

Applying working with nature to navigation infrastructure projects

In 2008, the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) published a Position Paper describing a Working with Nature (WwN) philosophy that aimed to change how the sector approaches navigation and port infrastructure projects. In 2018, PIANC subsequently published guidance on implementing WwN, an integrated approach that aligns new or existing infrastructure with natural processes. PIANC’s guidance presents a six-step process to implement WwN that encourages consideration of site-specific ecosystem characteristics and WwN opportunities at early stages of project development, early stakeholder engagement, and integration of WwN into the development of project objectives, before design begins. By incorporating WwN applications during conception, design, and early stages of development, the WwN approach provides the most promising opportunities to affect positive outcomes for the environment. This holistic understanding of ecosystem processes and socioeconomic interactions realises that environmental impacts can be minimised while concomitantly seeking opportunities to enhance ecosystem functions at various spatial and temporal scales. Project delivery thus goes beyond merely avoiding or compensating for negative project impacts and seeks multi-sector ecosystem and socioeconomic benefits. Applied in practice, and consistent with UN Sustainable Development Goals, WwN can increase habitat functionality, reduce energy associated with construction or maintenance, and enhance the short- and long-term delivery of ecosystem services. Projects consistent with the WwN philosophy therefore achieve their underlying engineering objectives, alongside various co-benefits, consistent with the environmental, societal, and economic sustainability pillars.

Actual tasks of the development of river container transportation

The article is devoted to proposals within the framework of strategic objectives for the development of multimodality in river cargo transportation. The introduction describes the current state of river port infrastructure, assesses its readiness for containerization and provides statistics on such transportation. The materials and methods formulate strategic objectives for solving the problems of effective functioning of river transport in modern conditions. The results show the technology for reloading container cargo with portal cranes. results of calculating the travel time of container cargo along the route St. Petersburg - Kazan, taking into account transshipment by water and rail transport. The authors included scientific and practical recommendations for the discussion on the formation of a container line and the composition of ports on it. In conclusion, it was concluded that container transportation has prospects for development on river highways, which will contribute to both achieving the strategic goal of developing multimodality in transport and logistics schemes involving inland water transport, and can also lead to an increase in cargo traffic, improving the quality of transport services for clients and increasing competitiveness of river highways, which is especially important in the current conditions of the breakdown of traditional logistics connections.

Evaluating the Impact of Private Sector Participation on Operational Efficiency in Container Terminals: A Case Study of Colombo Port

Sri Lanka, strategically located in South Asia, has the potential to become a significant hub for international maritime trade. However, the current port infrastructure, particularly in Colombo, faces capacity constraints that limit its ability to accommodate larger vessels and manage increasing container traffic. This study evaluates the impact of private sector participation on the operational efficiency of Colombo’s container terminals - Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT), and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT). Using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the study found that private sector involvement significantly enhances terminal efficiency. SAGT, a privately operated terminal, exhibited the highest overall efficiency, while CICT demonstrated the highest productivity. JCT, though publicly operated, showed commendable performance but lagged behind the private terminals. The findings emphasize the value of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in optimizing port operations, offering critical insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime economy.

An application of gravity models to freight data in Malaysia

Background: Freight transport services and international trade are among important factors in pushing economies’ transition forward. Malaysia’s strategic location along key maritime routes positions it as a vital hub for international shipping and logistics, facilitating efficient trade between Asia, Europe and the Middle East.Objectives: Despite extensive global studies on freight and trade, little specific research exists from Malaysia’s perspective. Thus, this study aims to evaluate how factors such as economic size of trade partners and distance impact Malaysia’s freight transport in international trade, using the gravity model, a tool for analysing bilateral trade flows.Method: Three types of gravity models are employed to assess the impact of economic scale, infrastructure and demographic factors on freight transport. Then the validity of these relationships is further evaluated.Results: The random effect model (REM) is found to be the best fitted model. The study identifies infrastructure and economic scale as pivotal factors influencing both freight export and import. The result showed the volume of container handled in ports is the main determinant in both export and import of freight, whereas air freight has significant impact to boost the export of freight. Distance is statistically significant, however, with marginally small impact.Conclusion: Based on the analysis, we can conclude that the robust port infrastructure and efficient logistical facilities are important in reducing freight costs and enhancing Malaysia’s international trade competitiveness.Contribution: This study mainly contributes on providing empirical evidence and in-depth insight on Malaysia freight transport services through the application of gravity models.

Innovative digital twin with artificial neural networks for real-time monitoring of structural response: A port structure case study

Port structures face the constant threat of deterioration due to exposure to dynamic and seismic forces, as well as harsh environmental condition prevalent in a maritime setting. These challenges lead to induced stress concentrations within the structures, resulting in potential catastrophic failures. Despite significant effort, expenses, and time consumption associated with traditional structural health monitoring systems (SHM), regular inspections remain the norm. This study introduces innovative methods to replace traditional approaches, leveraging Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) as surrogates for real-time finite element (FE) modelling. The goal is to develop FE-based real-time digital twins for port structure by using sensor data, visualizing structural behaviour, and enabling a comprehensive monitoring of its structural response. An ANN model is trained using a validated FE model of the structure, generating immediate deformations based on sensor readings. By implementing this approach, stress variations are efficiently obtained and visualized throughout the structure. Unlike traditional methods that follow an inverse approach in estimating the entire structural response based on sensor values, the ANNs demonstrate high efficiency in addressing ill-conditioning issues inherent in such processes. This integrated methodology showcases the effectiveness of ANNs in providing real-time insights into the structural response of port infrastructure, offering a viable addition to the conventional SHM practices. The trained ANN model generates results in a high accuracy where the testing error is in the order of 10−5 and it generates data within 15 milli seconds demonstrating the near real-time conditions. The development of digital twins, facilitated by ANNs, demonstrates a promising solution for continuous monitoring, predictive maintenance, and risk mitigation in the face of dynamic operational and environmental challenges. The study contributes to the advancement of smart infrastructure by harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence and digital twin technology.

Problems of the management of habitat monitoring in settlements (ports) of the Northern Sea Route

Introduction. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the main Arctic shipping route in the Russian Federation. As part of the development of Arctic infrastructure, the state and private investors have launched large-scale work on the development of Arctic ports. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current monitoring system for the state of atmospheric air, soil, and drinking water in the territory of settlements (ports) in the Northern Sea Route. Materials and methods. Official data from environmental pollution monitoring by (Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) and social and hygienic monitoring by Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) in twelve settlements and ports in the Northern Sea Route were used. An electronic database has been created. The analysis was carried out using MS Office Excel, visualization of the location of monitoring points – ESRI ArcGIS 9.3 Results. The conducted research has shown heterogeneity in the management of monitoring of environmental factors of the population living in settlements (ports) of the NSR. The largest monitoring coverage is typical for settlements in the North-West – primarily the cities of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, where the largest number of posts are located and all environments are monitored – atmospheric air, soil of populated areas and drinking water. There is practically no monitoring of the habitat in the village of Sabetta, Dudinka. In the village. Dixon habitat monitoring is not carried out. Atmospheric air, the quality of which is especially important for territories with developed port infrastructure, is controlled only in 5 out of 12 settlements (ports) of the NSR. Limitations. The research had no limitations. Conclusion. The need to optimize the monitoring system was noted. As measures, it is recommended to manage monitoring of atmospheric air, drinking water, and soil in the village. Dixon; atmospheric air and soil in the village. Sabetta and Dudinka; atmospheric air in Beringovsky village, Igarka, Providence village; soil in Tiksi village. It is necessary to expand the list of controlled indices in atmospheric air, drinking water and soil, as well as increase the frequency of sampling.

Extreme sea levels and floods: the case study of Klaipėda City, Lithuania

Klaipėda City is located in the Southeast Baltic Sea region, where sea level rise has been observed for decades. The Klaipėda Strait, which separates the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon, where the port is located, is also more prone to sudden extreme changes in water levels, usually caused by windstorms. Extreme sea level changes pose a threat to port operations, technical structures, city residents, buildings, and infrastructure. Fluctuations in sea levels also affect the water level of the Danė River, which enters the Klaipėda Strait and divides the city into two parts. Therefore, this study aims to determine the past extreme sea level events and their influence on floods in the Danė River within Klaipėda City from 1961 to 2022. For this, the impact of meteorological parameters caused dangerous sea level rises in the Klaipėda Strait, and the following rise of the Danė River was studied. The results show that the annual mean, annual mean maximum, and annual mean minimum water levels in the Klaipėda Strait increased from 1961 to 2022. Also, the number of events where the water level in the Klaipėda Strait was ≥ 100 cm in the Baltic Elevation System was increasing. The increasing frequency of extreme water level events in the Klaipėda Strait puts urban areas at greater risk from Danė River compound floods.

Small Pelagics in West Africa face the multiple challenges of food security, wealth creation and regional governance

The aim of this article is to present the multidimensional challenges associated with the exploitation of small pelagic fish in the West Africa region. The method involved collecting statistical data on the production and trade of these fish from research centres located in countries along the West African coastline. Field surveys were also conducted with experts and key stakeholders in fisheries to gather qualitative information on fisheries resource governance and working conditions within the value chain. These empirical data are enriched by a narrative review of scientific literature. Our results show an average annual production of small pelagic fish estimated at 1.3 million tonnes. Although this performance has improved over the past decade, primarily due to increased catches in Mauritania, it remains insufficient to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. Indeed, per capita consumption of small pelagic fish has decreased by two kilograms over the past decade, currently standing at five kilograms per individual per year. The trade deficit in pelagic fish is increasing. This situation is set to worsen in the coming years due to various factors such as the current state of overexploitation of pelagic stocks, degradation of marine ecosystems, and climate change. Additionally, the emergence of fishmeal and fish oil industries, as well as the lack of adequate port infrastructure, hampers the value addition of the small pelagic fish value chain for human consumption. On the governance front, several challenges remain. Current public policies are often directive and ineffective, particularly concerning artisanal fisheries. The management of migrant fishers also remains problematic, exacerbating the pressure on already vulnerable stocks. Despite the establishment of regional institutions, interviews with experts highlight a lack of integration and synergy in fisheries resource governance. In a context where issues of food security and climate change are becoming increasingly urgent, it is imperative to design and implement robust regional strategies to address these critical challenges.Haut du formulaire Bas du formulaire

Peluang pertumbuhan ekonomi di Kabupaten Majene Provinsi Sulawesi Barat

Background: The high production of capture fisheries in Majene Regency is not balanced by a marketing system and infrastructure in the form of adequate fishing ports and fish processing units. Findings: It is recorded that currently Majene Regency only has 2 (two) fishing port units, namely PPI Palipi and PPP Banggae with a total of 30,887 fishermen, the largest in West Sulawesi out of a total of 57,318 people. With these conditions, the catch of Majene Regency fishermen is mostly sold in the middle of the sea. Methods: This paper uses a literature review method sourced from literature, such as scientific articles, books, journals, and online media. Conclusion: The number of fishing port infrastructure in Majene Regency is still relatively low when viewed from the amount of production in other regencies/cities in West Sulawesi Province. So a government policy step is needed as a form of support for economic growth that is in accordance with the potential in Majene Regency, one of which is fisheries. Thus, it is hoped that fishery products which are superior commodities can be distributed to areas that do not have the potential for capture fisheries resources or the exchange of commodities through a buying and selling system.

On the positive economic impacts of port infrastructure development and seaborne trade efficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Senegal

AbstractInefficient port infrastructures is one of the challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly as regards the West African region’s economic progress. Using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model, the paper examines how improving port infrastructure in Senegal can increase the potential of seaborne trade, and accelerate economic and social development in the country and the wider region. Despite Senegal's strategic location along the Trans-Saharan trade route in West Africa, infrastructural limitations pose challenges to port capacity. Our findings suggest that improving port infrastructure can increase port productivity, leading to a reduction in costs of imported food products and domestic inputs. As a result, the country's competitiveness in international markets would be enhanced and could stimulate the production of cash crops, industrial food, and chemical products. This would lead to increased food supply and improved purchasing power, supporting the country's food security. Results show that increased efficiencies in maritime exports and imports lead to an overall increase in economic activity, resulting in significant GDP growth, improved welfare, and a reduction in poverty incidence. This growth can be attributed to higher exports and greater availability of imported intermediate inputs at lower prices, making exports more competitive in the global market as export prices decrease.