Port Policy Research Articles

Green Port Strategies in Developed Coastal Countries as Useful Lessons for the Path of Sustainable Development: A case study in Vietnam

The global shipping industry has been contributing more than four-fifths of the volume of goods transported internationally. However, shipping is facing pressure from strict policies on combating climate change from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Seaports are an essential component of shipping and are also having to change their development strategies to be more sustainable and smarter. The concept of a green port was born as an inevitable part of the green economic development path. Green port system development policies and strategies have been discussed and studied in recent literature reviews, and have revealed the limited reach of developing countries. This work focuses on evaluating successful green port policies and concepts in developed countries to highlight the distinctive features of green ports. Moreover, the experiences from the effective green port models of developed countries can be valuable lessons for developing countries like Vietnam. More interestingly, the core features of green ports, when piloted at several international ports in Vietnam, promote port efficiency and environmental friendliness. On the way to implementing the national green port strategy, Vietnam has been establishing legal and infrastructure corridors to realize the strategy of sustainable marine economic development by 2045.

Creation of a port authority in nineteenth century British India: Organisational structure and administrative procedures in the Port of Calcutta

The formation of an ‘Authority’ for port management in nineteenth century British India under a structural legal framework represented a watershed in the economic history of port management and sea-borne trade, one with far-reaching effects on both enterprise and the organisation of labour in the region. This ‘new’ authority structure started in the Port of Calcutta and was adopted for the ports of Bombay, Rangoon and other south Asian port cities. Using unpublished documentation collected from the archives of the first port authority established in British India, Bengal Legislative Council and the archival statistical information of trade and navigation from India Office, this research seeks to trace the genesis and evolution of bureaucratic procedures and organisational management, by anchoring research in the nineteenth century Calcutta port's policies and administrative framework. This article traces the development of the modern port authority structure and its internal administration, which can be found even today.

Developing and demonstrating a maturity model for smart ports

ABSTRACT Increasing congestion and the push for (i) a greener modal shift, (ii) more reliability and visibility of goods, and (iii) more sustainable activities in and related to the port are turning policymakers to the concept of the smart port. Such emerging concept describes a future state of the port that is adapted to these challenges. A smart port is a port that optimizes in-, intra- and outbound flow of goods and information, leads sustainable development and guarantees safe, resilient and secure activities through the capabilities of its (extended) port community and enabling technologies. However, turning a traditional port into a smart port is a strategic challenge for the port community at large. To contribute to this practically relevant and academic challenge, the present paper applies a literature review and the novel maturity model development methodology to develop a strategic tool. This newly-developed strategic tool (i) enhances the common understanding of the current and aspired maturity state, (ii) support decision-making of port policy and management actors and (iii) represent a maturation path for improvement for port communities. The case study results demonstrate the benefits and relevance of the tool. Finally, recommendations are made to apply this policy tool for digitalization strategy.

Estimation of Pollutant Emissions and Environmental Costs Caused by Ships at Port: A Case Study of Busan Port

To reduce air pollutants, the International Maritime Organisation and port authorities use ship emissions regulations, such as MARPOL Annex VI and green port policies. To measure the effectiveness of these air emissions regulatory policies, accurate calculations of pollutant emissions and estimations of the social environmental costs of emissions are important. However, Busan Port still suffers from a lack of research on continuous monitoring and easy access to data-based emission calculation methods and estimation of the social environmental costs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to present quantitative emission calculations based on an open source and social environmental cost estimation method. To this end, the discharge of pollutants (NOx, SO2, CO2, VOC, PM2.5, and PM10) from ships in Busan Port was calculated using Port-MIS open data from 2015–2019. Subsequently, when the original study on estimating the social and environmental impact of air pollution from ships in Busan Port was difficult, the international benefit transfer method (an economic valuation method) was applied to estimate the social environmental costs. Our results can provide a basis for verifying the effectiveness of Busan Port’s air quality improvement policy in the future.

New possibilities for climate change countermeasures in ports: Organic carbon containment and creation of blue carbon ecosystems through beneficial utilization of dredged soil

As climate change has attracted increasing global attention, carbon neutral ports (CNPs) have been set as government policies in Japan. In this research, with the aim of providing a more reliable basis for policy making concerning ports, we proposed the carbon storage through stable containment of organic carbon present in dredged soil as a new climate change countermeasure in ports. Furthermore, it was revealed through scenario analysis that the containment effect through beneficial utilization of dredged soil as foundation materials for blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) and carbon storage by BCEs have significant meanings for the realization of CNPs and sinks for the residual emissions, considering the necessity to promote dredging projects for the development of the next generation of import bases toward the realization of CNPs, which may result in the generation of a large amount of dredged soil. In a country like Japan, whose port policies and port governance make it difficult to actively promote climate change countermeasures by each port, the feasibility of these new countermeasures would depend on the government’s initiative. It would be a world-leading effort to focus on port development in addition to port operation, and utilizing the dredged soil and BCEs as carbon sinks.

Logistics strategy simulation of second-ranked ports on the basis of Japan’s port reforms: a case study of Hakata Port

ABSTRACT As a result of the port reforms in Japan, the Japanese government has intensively invested in physical infrastructure to maintain the trunk routes at selected and legally repositioned first rank strategic international ports under the Strategic International Container Port Policy. However, although central international ports, which are legally ranked second, have important roles to play in trade with Asia, it is difficult to expand the functions of these ports further without the development of strategic measures, given the government policies and accompanying budget constraints. This paper describes an examination of the feasibility of logistics strategies for a second-rank port to become a hub for Asia in Japan consistent with the current policy by using the global logistics intermodal network simulation, considering Hakata Port as a case study. The results show that Hakata Port has the potential to collect cargo from ports on the Japan Sea side and to launch shuttle services to Southeast Asia. The simulation results also suggest that cooperation with Kitakyushu Port, which is geographically close, is desirable. Approaches based on the characteristics of port governance in Japan are also presented.

Freight distribution analysis and modelling of inland waterway transport using big data

The Yangtze River economic belt (YREB) serves as the main east–west axis of China to promote economic development and environmental protection along the Yangtze River (YR). The factors that affect the freight distribution of major types of cargo transported through the YR were analysed using automatic identification system data and ship visa data. First, a set of freight impedance functions was developed for different types of links of the waterway network, considering a number of factors (e.g. cargo type, delays at ship locks, water levels and flows at different waterway segments and upstream and downstream shipping speeds). Distance-based (DB) and time-based (TB) impedance matrices of different types of cargo were computed. A gravity model (GM) and an intervening opportunity model were then used to simulate the distributions of different types of cargo based on the computed impedance matrices. A trip length distribution method was applied to validate the estimated distribution models. The results showed that the GM with a power term outperformed the other models and that the TB models were superior to the DB models for the prediction of freight distributions over large geographies like the YREB. This work offers an in-depth understanding of the freight characteristics of inland waterways and therefore should be helpful for relevant authorities in formulating port and inland waterway plans and policies.

Environmental Mainstreaming in Greek TEN-T Ports

Along with recent fundamental changes in several aspects of the port industry, ports come up against formidable environmental challenges. It is thus important and often imperative to mainstream environmental concerns in their operation, planning, and development; improve their environmental performance; and make the transition to sustainable production and consumption patterns. The industry’s greening is largely underpinned by European Union (EU) transport and port policy, with major European initiatives such as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the European Green Deal, and Blue Growth expected to give new impetus. This paper examines environmental mainstreaming in Greek TEN-T ports and their ability to cope with upcoming challenges based on questionnaire responses by 23 port authorities and taking into account the relevant progress made by ESPO port members. We argue that all respondents have gradually become aware of the need to move towards an environment-friendly operation and development, but progress is slow, and there is still a lot to be done. Performances vary and depend on different factors, while ports are faced with significant challenges and various constraints. Nevertheless, new environmental standards present a real opportunity for Greek ports to undertake deep structural changes, especially in view of current and future European port policy.

Reducing pollutant emissions from vessel maneuvering in port areas

We propose an activity-based model to calculate ships’ exhaust emissions while maneuvering in port. The exhaust emissions from the seven international commercial ports in Taiwan (namely Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung, Taipei, Hualien, Anping, and Suao) were calculated using actual data. Then, the regional ship exhaust emissions were estimated based on the number and size of ships and the type of fuel they used. Our method of predicting and evaluating the effectiveness of green port policies is shown to be intuitive and precise. Small vessels, which are the most common vessel type to enter and leave Taiwan ports, were shown to generate most of the emissions, but unit emissions from large vessels were the highest among three types of vessels (i.e., small, medium, and large). Moreover, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions corresponded to sailing speed. Taiwan International Ports Co., Ltd (TIPC) has slightly reduced carbon dioxide equivalent and sulfur oxide emissions by implementing a green port policy, consisting of multiple ways of building a sustainable port environment (such as vessel speed reduction and use of low-sulfur oil). However, nitrogen oxide emissions have not decreased significantly. Our findings indicate that lower speeds and onshore power supply can reduce local air pollution, and assist transportation authorities, who should consistently monitor GHG emissions in port, to proactively respond to the International Maritime Organization’s regulations for ensuring a sustainable future.

Free trade areas as cross-cultural knowledge-sharing platforms: evidence from the Sino-Vietnam case

Purpose A free trade area (FTA) is the designated economic area where bilateral trades between membership nations are tax-free. An FTA provides an important knowledge-sharing platform across cultures. Most studies discuss FTA issues from the perspectives of economics and international law. However, this study aims to analyse the challenges and opportunities relating to FTAs from a novel, integrative perspective of culture and knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach This study used a single-case study design to investigate the Sino-Vietnam bilateral trade conditions in the FTA of the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Yunnan province, China, with government officials and firm managers involved in Sino-Vietnam trade. Findings This study identifies three major challenges in the China-Vietnam case: the existence of a knowledge iceberg, the lack of deep mutual trust and the inconsistency of bilateral port policies. This study identifies three possible solutions to these challenges: creating different communication channels for knowledge sharing, building mutual trust and respect for knowledge sharing and reducing inconsistencies in the two border gate management systems. Research limitations/implications Considering cross-cultural knowledge sharing, this study provides new insight and feasible guidance for better cooperation of member countries of FTAs all over the world. Originality/value This research is novel because it considers the FTA as a knowledge-sharing platform where the intersection of diverse cultural values and judgement may result in a variety of knowledge icebergs. Thus, this study enriches the FTA research by focussing on the intersection of culture and knowledge management.

Ukrainian Maritime Policy: Stranded in a Transit

Some aspects of the formation and realization of the modern maritime policy of Ukraine have been defined in the article. Its legal basis has been considered, its changes and updates have been monitored. The possibility and the ability to develop the documents of long-term planning in the maritime industry have been noted. At the same time, the belatedness and the lack of actual mechanisms for ensuring the execution of their norms lead to a stagnation of systemic reforms and a comprehensive update of public administration of the sphere. The attention is focused on the importance of a systematic approach to the transformation of legislative and law enforcement practices in the sphere of maritime and port activities in Ukraine, ensuring stability and continuity in their administration. The positive and negative practices in the exercise of powers by some subjects of realization of the maritime and port policy of Ukraine have been described. The pernicious practice of distance and situational intervention of a state in solving problems of the maritime and port industries as a strategic component of its political, social, and economic stability has been emphasized. Author suggest that introduction of modern methodology, such as maritime spatial planning may have positive impact on the effectiveness of Ukrainian maritime policy. When considering the development of the coastal regions as one of the directions of the maritime policy of Ukraine, it has been noted the advantages of creating and functioning the free economic zones in them. The characteristic of the experience of creation and work, as well as the specifics of such forms of trade facilitation (the preferential legal and financially-economic regimes, the presence of a particular specialization of entrepreneurial and investment activities, etc.), shows the economic expediency of granting such status to the port cities and the coastal regions. It has been noted that the free economic zones today are an active means of state policy, capable equally of reanimating depressed territory and giving an additional impetus to the regional points of growth.

Port strategy and performance: empirical evidence from major container ports and implications for role of data analytics

ABSTRACT Container ports operate in more challenging and volatile environments at present times. Events such as US-China trade tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic severely affect numerous container ports at various levels. Strategies pursued by container ports are key to port development and management amidst these challenges. Drawing on configuration theory, this research employs Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to investigate the relation between port strategies and container throughput. The research contributes to the literature by proposing an approach to account for complexity of the port sector and offers insights into strategies adopted by major container ports. The research further identifies 10 port strategies and proposed indicators that can represent the essence of these strategies. Being able to represent strategies in a quantitative format is important for strategy analysis and performance evaluation. Results reveal that major container ports employ a combination of strategies which address both the supply and demand-side aspects of the port business. Growing digitalization and digitization coupled with advancements in information capture, diagnostics capabilities and predictive abilities means a greater role for data analytics to influence container port strategy and performance. Implications for port managers, policy makers and researchers from the perspective of port policy and management are proposed.

Seaports in the BRI: Challenges, Solutions and Emerging Regulations

The article examines ways to increase the efficiency of seaport projects within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. It considers the new challenges and threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis in the maritime sphere. The first direction of the research was an analysis of the current stage of the implementation of the BRI in the global port industry, attempts to strengthen the influence of the People’s Republic of China (the PRC) on the national port facilities and the reasons for the wrecking of the large, planned projects. The authors note the “rigidity” of China’s “soft power” in promoting and consolidating influence on the maritime port industry. The second part of the article describes the modern practice of implementing the BRI in Europe. The positive and negative aspects of cooperation of the People’s Republic of China with the EU countries are considered. The focus is on the strengthening influence of regionalism in the European port policy under conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the authors point out a natural gradual “cooling” of attitude towards the Chinese investment projects in connection with the focus on strategic sectors of the economy of the EU member states, reinforced by the spread of the pandemic. Based on the analysis, the ways to increase confidence in Chinese investment in the European region are proposed. The third direction of the analysis is the growth of the BRI northern segment, the beginning of the formation of the Ice Silk Road, and the investment projects of the PRC in the seaports of the traditional near-arctic states.

The Shipping Sector and Ports as Central Actors in the Decarbonization Effort

Abstract This article carves out China’s maritime state-of-play with regards to greenhouse gas (ghg) mitigating measures with a special focus on carbon dioxide (co2) emission. The article commences with an overview of International Maritime Organization (imo) ghg strategy taking into account the critical targets, proposed plans, schemes and measures aimed at the shipping sector. Discussions then segue into a twofold discussion pertaining to China’s current policy and port governance actions highlighting some of the existing gaps and challenges. Reference is made to remarkable developments from countries considering three vital key elements for an effective green port policy framework before drawing concluding remarks.

A Study on Consumer Perception for Eco-Friendly Port Policy of Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port

Purpose : The aim of this study is to analyze importance for six eco-friendly port policies that applied to Pyeonataek-Dangjin port by users and suggest implication. Research design, data, methodology : AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) technique was used for the analysis of the study. A questionnaire survey was conducted on three eco-friendly port policies related to transportation systems and three eco-friendly port policies related to loading and unlading systems for users of Pyeongtaek-Dangjin port. Results : As a result of conducting the AHP analysis based on the responses of the survey, port users recognized that the eco-friendly port policy related to the loading and unloading system is more important than others. In detail, Establishing Alternative Maritime Power supply(AMP) and Supporting Eco-Friendly Fuel Replacement for Port Unloading Equipment are more important and effective than other policies. Conclusions : In order to develop into an eco-friendly port, it suggested that government support for expanding related infrastructure is essential, and tax benefits and funding are needed to support companies' related infrastructure rather than government regulations.

Research on Convolutional Neural Network-Based Virtual Reality Platform Framework for the Intangible Cultural Heritage Conservation of China Hainan Li Nationality: Boat-Shaped House as an Example

Hainan is located at the southernmost tip of China, since ancient times it has always occupied an important position on the Silk Road. Hainan culture is dominated by minority and marine cultures and has a rich intangible cultural heritage. Hainan has always been committed to the development and utilization of its wide cultural heritage, and the development direction is mainly based on live display and folk activities. In May 2020, the Chinese government announced the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port Policy and System, the establishment of a Hainan International Free Trade Zone, and the development of tourism, modern services, and high-tech industry. All these put forward higher requirements for the protection of Hainan’s cultural heritage, not just traditional ways to protect and promote, but also to use the dividends of current scientific and technological development to keep up with the times to protect and promote. The integration of digital technology will be the development direction of cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage. This paper enumerates and analyzes other cases and academic directions of intangible cultural heritage, combined with the present situation of intangible cultural heritage in Hainan. It also analyzes the predicament of handiwork inheritance in Hainan intangible cultural heritage, expounds the structure, humanistic connotation, and construction skills of Li nationality ship house, and summarizes the role of a novel deep learning convolutional neural network- (CNN-) based virtual reality framework of intangible cultural heritage conservation in promoting the intangible cultural heritage of traditional skills. It also puts forward the scheme and heritage conservation virtual reality content construction and provides the process of building a virtual reality platform for the intangible cultural heritage of ship-shaped houses, which as an example can be used as a reference for intangible cultural heritage researchers in other areas. At the same time, it fills the gap for the artificial intelligence-based digitization of the intangible cultural heritage.

“If You Know the Enemy and Know Yourself”: Addressing the Problem of Biological Invasions in Ports Through a New NIS Invasion Threat Score, Routine Monitoring, and Preventive Action Plans

Invasive alien species (IAS) are currently considered one of the greatest threats to global marine ecosystems. Thus, ships and maritime activity have been identified as the main factors responsible for the vast majority of accidental species translocations around the world, implying that prevention should be the core of environmental port policies. Preventive port strategies should include analyzing risks based on traffic origins and volumes, revising port policies for inspections, estimating probabilities of non-indigenous species (NIS) appearance, monitoring routine species within ports, and finally implementing management plans and focused actions. Here, we conducted a comprehensive NIS prediction analysis for the port of Gijon (northern Spain), one of the largest ports in the south Bay of Biscay, as a case study that can be extrapolated to other international seaports. An extensive bibliographic search (1953–2020) was conducted and we identified 380 species that have been transported through hull fouling and ballast water around the world. We evaluated their likelihood of arriving (from 14 years of traffic data) and becoming established (from habitat suitability and demonstrated impacts and invasion ability) within the Gijon port, creating a new NIS Invasion Threat Score (NIS-ITS). This new index could help to identify target species that are likely invaders for early detection and prevention policies within the port. The results showed that 15 NIS had >90% likelihood of becoming a biological invasion problem in Gijon Port. At the same time, we reported morphological and genetic analysis of biota found in two successive annual monitoring surveys of Gijon port and ships (n = 612 individuals) revealing 18 NIS, including 6 of the NIS predicted from high NIS-ITS. Actually, 80% (12 NIS) of those potentially most dangerous species (NIS-ITS > 90%) have already been detected in the Bay of Biscay area. We propose the use of this new tool for a risk-reduction strategy in ports, based on accurate predictions that help in promoting specific early detection tests and specific monitoring for NIS that have a high chance of establishment. All international seaports can adopt this strategy to address the problem of biological invasions and become “blueports” in line with EU policy.

The evolution and competition patterns of shipping networks under the influence of an Arctic route system

ABSTRACT To study the impact of Arctic routes on shipping networks, this paper uses an Arctic route system (ARS) model. Based on the evolution of the ARS, an improved weighted network evolution model (the BBV model) is used to predict the evolution of shipping networks from 2017 to 2035. Then, the multiple linkage analysis method is applied to extract the significant flows in the networks, and a competition network is built. The main results are as follows: (1) Significant flows in the maritime network under the influence of the ARS show an increasing trend and then a decreasing trend during evolution process. (2) According to multiple linkage analysis, Shanghai, Busan, and Tokyo have higher positions. (3) The overall network competition decreases. (4) In terms of the competitive landscape of China’s container ports, Guangzhou has the strongest domestic competitive intensity. In addition, Chinese ports that face greater competition from foreign ports are always Shanghai and Shenzhen. One implication of analysis is that due to gradual influence of the ARS, port policy makers should implement different policies at different times. The paper also shows that some ports (such as Shanghai and Ningbo) should formulate cooperation agreements to promote ports development.

Governing coalitions and key performance indicators of port governance

The port is a crucial part of the international transportation of goods. As technological advances in the maritime industry have driven drastic changes in port policies, scholars have studied decisions on cargo shipping, port regulatory frameworks, and the interests involved in such changes. However, the connection of policy actors to port performance in the maritime transport literature remains largely understudied due to the complexity and heterogeneity of institutional designs chosen by countries. To move towards filling the gap, this paper explores links between governing coalitions and key performance indicators of port governance. We propose eight typologies for classifying governing coalitions of port governance, drawing insights from the Advocacy Coalition Framework. We then explore how different port governance forms are associated with key performance indicators of 17 countries. This paper finds that countries opting for decentralization do not necessarily support trade liberalization or port privatization. The results also show that decentralized governing coalitions are positively associated with higher key performance indicators of port governance.

Applicability of International Law in Development of Sustainable Port Policy: An Analysis of Good Practices and Future Policy of Gwadar Port

Applicability of International Law in Development of Sustainable Port Policy: An Analysis of Good Practices and Future Policy of Gwadar Port