Small Port Research Articles

A Conceptual Model for Automation of Small Ports

Abstract For large ports and terminals, the loading and discharge operations have to a great extent been automated already. However, for the vast number of small ports, for instance all Norwegian ports, this large-scale automation is not possible due to the small size of the ports compared to the cost of introducing full automation. Still, these small ports are important logistics hubs in the transport system. They facilitate the shift from congested roads to the sea by allowing the goods to arrive closer to the final destination by using smaller, possibly autonomous, vessels. However, this puts pressure on the ports to facilitate reduced laytime in the port, to increase the port efficiency and to improve interoperability towards hinterland systems and terminals. For small ports, this means that manual and automated work processes need to exist side by side, and that it will be important to get an overview of which processes to automate and which will remain manual, in addition to the handling of the hand-over between humans and automation. This paper describes a conceptual model that can be used by small ports as a starting point on their way to introduce automation of their services supporting the cargo flow through the port. The model includes a description of port functions, tasks and responsibilities and use the concept of operational envelope to define the overall capabilities of the system, including both automation and human. This will be the starting point for how to structure the description of an operation centre that monitor and control the maritime terminal operations. The starting point for this work is a use case analysis performed in some small ports in Norway, and their need to optimize the utilization of their assets. The work is done as part of the AutoPort project which is a research project funded by the Norwegian Research Council (project number 337211). The goal of this work is to describe a methodology on how to identify the interface between automation and human operators when it comes to small ports and the movement of cargo through its terminals, and by this give a description on how different levels of automation can be implemented. The methodology consists of several steps, including definition of the context (big picture of the use case, actors and their roles, and communication), the scenario (port activities and processes), and the use cases including the control tasks performed by the automated systems.

Propagation of Free Infragravity Waves Generated at Distant Beaches

AbstractInfragravity (IG) waves are important drivers of extreme run‐up, morphological changes, and seiches. While locally forced IG waves have been extensively investigated, recent studies have revealed the significance of free IG waves generated on distant beaches. This study focuses on free IG waves generated at a coast facing southeast in Japan during the passage of a typhoon. The relationship between incident short waves and free IG waves as well as their contributions to nearshore IG waves, in particular to seiches in a small port, are analyzed using unique measurement data and numerical experiments. During the typhoon passage, more than 75% of the observed IG wave energy originates from free IG waves at an observatory located at a depth of 23 m, and their peak direction is alongshore. Six‐year measurement data demonstrate that peak directions of free IG waves strongly depend on the incident wave angles of short waves and that swells from the south generate alongshore propagating free IG waves. A numerical model can reproduce the alongshore propagating free IG waves accurately when using a large computational domain. Moreover, numerical experiments performed using the model demonstrate that the alongshore propagating free IG waves are IG waves reflected from distant beaches. The free IG waves from distant beaches are small outside the port, but seiches in the port are amplified by more than 10%. The relationship between seiches and incoming free IG waves is further discussed based on the numerical experiments.

Conversion of Sidewalks into Vendor Stalls: A Case Study on Mardika Street, Sirimau District, Ambon

This research examines the functional shift of sidewalks into merchant kiosks on Mardika Beach Road, Sirimau District, Ambon. The research type used is a survey method with quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research location is on Mardika Beach Road, with the implementation time from November 16 to December 16, 2023. The research population consisted of 30 merchant kiosks, with a purposive sample of 20 people. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, documentation, and data analysis. The study results show that the functional shift of sidewalks at Mardika Terminal has positive and negative impacts that need to be considered balanced. Positively, the functional change of sidewalks into trading areas provides economic opportunities for local communities to develop small businesses, create new jobs, and promote economic growth. However, on the other hand, the functional shift of sidewalks has reduced the effectiveness and comfort of pedestrian paths. The sidewalks from Mardika Beach Bridge to the small port have been used as trading locations, resulting in discomfort for pedestrians. Uncontrolled economic activities also impact traffic congestion and environmental cleanliness issues due to scattered waste. Thus, a balance between economic growth and public convenience can be optimally achieved in the Mardika Terminal area, Ambon.

Tourist itineraries for Sustainable Mobility: an application in the Salento Area (Italy)

The purpose of this work is to define the design process, implemented through an analytical methodology, of two sustainable mobility tourist routes in a specific area of southern Italy (Salento); methodology applicable to other territorial realities. This design process was developed in the context of the 2014/2020 Interreg V-A Greece-Italy cross-border cooperation strategic project called "AI SMART_Adriatic Ionian Small Port Network". It takes into account the analysis of existing Plans and Programs at different levels (Sustainable Mobility Urban Plans; cycling routes; Territorial Plans, etc.), the analysis of statistical data in the area related to employment and tourism; the interlocution with key stakeholders, the analysis of architectural, landscape and food and wine surpluses. These routes have been defined for the interaction of the port of Otranto with the hinterland territories and with the opposite Ionian coast to promote the sustainable and inclusive transnational tourist fruition of the Apulian territory. The genesis of the two thematic itineraries stems from the need/willingness to valorise some areas of Salento through the connection of significant nodes in terms of landscape, architectural and historical value, which define two routes with Pulsano and Otranto as their vertices. The project brings together the potential of the Salento as an area with a strong tourist value, with the theme of sustainable mobility, suggesting the seasonality of travel of each, to meet the needs of deseasonalization of an area with a high summer and seaside tourism vocation.

Hub-and-spoke maritime network with heterogeneous commodity on island shipping

ABSTRACT This paper presents an extension to a classic hub-and-spoke maritime network, by adding the feeder node and heterogeneous commodity to the network on an island shipping network. The cargo is delivered from origin (hub) to destination (feeder), which can be compounded in hub node and sent using container in container ship to a spoke node. In the spoke node, the container is de-containerized into general cargo package, representing heterogeneous commodity, and finally shipped using cargo ship to the feeder node. This system is suitable for island shipping network, consisting of several small ports with marginal hinterland, where the development of container facility is not financially feasible. The proposed model generates the optimum number and location of spoke, alongside with its allocated feeder node, to minimize the total shipping cost. As a case study, an actual island network in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, is utilized, resulting in a recommendation of one additional spoke to the existing network. The result also suggests a backup spoke if the single spoke scheme is selected, anticipating any disruption on the selected spoke node. A trade-off between shipping cost reduction and spoke investment cost should be considered by policymakers in the adoption of the system.

The Rise and Fall of Cullercoats as a Coal Exporting Port in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

Although the coal industry in the Northeast of England during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries has been the subject of extensive study by historians over many years, most research has focussed mainly on larger centres of the coal trade such as Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland. Less well known is the significant contribution to coal exports made by some of the smaller communities and harbours along the Northumberland and Durham coasts. During the latter years of the seventeenth and early years of the eighteenth century the small coastal village of Cullercoats, just North of Tynemouth, became a significant coal and salt exporting port following the development of a colliery at nearby Whitley. Customs records of Cullercoats coal exports were included, as a Lesser Creek, in the Exchequer Port Books of Newcastle upon Tyne. Two Newcastle Exchequer Port Books containing complete records of Cullercoats coastal exports for 1702–1703 and overseas exports for 1698–1699 have survived, these include the names of the people and ships involved and provide a fascinating insight into the impact of the coal trade upon a small coastal port and it’s local community. Although its coal trade was relatively short lived, Cullercoats continued to thrive as a flourishing fishing port and during the nineteenth, twentieth and into the twenty-first centuries as a popular holiday resort frequented by many well-known and successful artists.

THE ACTIONS OF OTTOMAN STATE TO OPEN THE PORT OF TEKİRDAG TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE (1840-1920)

Since the 1840s, the Ottoman Empire has carried out a series of activities to rehabilitate the Edirne Meriç River and Enez Port and bring them into international trade. The inspiration for these studies is the Paris Embassy Report (Sefaretname), written by Mehmet Çelebi during his Paris embassy. While the Ottoman Empire prioritized the use of rivers and lakes only for military purposes, after this date, it was faced with the fact that rivers and lakes could also be connected to international trade routes. However, the Ottoman Empire could not take the necessary steps in this regard for a long time. Among the reasons for this was that Ottoman engineers did not have the river technologies and engineering knowledge developed in European countries such as France. For this reason, Sultan Abdulmecid wanted to benefit from foreign experts. Monsieur Borel, one of the experts he invited from France, stated that although he worked on Meriç and its tributaries for a while, it would be more profitable and practical to connect the Rumelian trade routes to the newly established docks, piers and ports by opening new channels instead of improving this river. In this statement, he also gave great importance to Tekirdağı (Tekfurdağı) Port. He emphasized that if the Tekirdağ port, which was a very small port at that time, was enlarged and expanded, it would be the shortest way to transport all the goods and commodities to be produced in Rumelia to the Mediterranean and Istanbul. As a matter of fact, when Monsieur Borel's statement is examined, it is understood that Tekirdağı port can be a very busy and comprehensive port if the suggested roads and channels to be opened are built. Although river improvement works were not mentioned among the renovation works initiated by the Ottoman Empire after the Tanzimat, recent research has revealed that the Ottoman Empire had a great desire and desire to establish national and international trade routes. In this article, the works and results of the Ottoman Empire's efforts to establish and expand the Tekirdağ port and make it the busiest port in Rumelia and the Balkans between 1840 and 1920 will be emphasized using original documents.

Optimizing berth-crane allocation considering tidal effects using chaotic quantum whale optimization algorithm

With the normalization of the global epidemic, shipping has gradually resumed, resulting in a surge in port throughput. Terminal managers are having great difficulty in making container ports be stable, orderly, and efficient. For small and medium-sized ports, making full use of the tidal water level to increase the operation time of large ships significantly improves the efficiency of port operations. Therefore, considering the impact of tidal factors on the operation of container ports, this paper firstly proposes a new berths and quay cranes allocation optimization model, T-B&QC, that minimizes the distance between the actual berthing berth and the preferred berth, the port time cost of ships and the number of quay crane movements as the optimization objectives, under constraints that consider tidal factors. Then, to solve the T-B&QC model using chaotic mapping and quantum theory, the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is integrated by using the Chaotic Quantum Rotating Gate Algorithm (CQRGA) and the Quantum Not Gate Algorithm (QNGA), whale coding rules are designed, and the Feasible-Integer Processing Algorithm (WF-IP) is established. Afterwards, the Chaotic Quantum Whale Optimization Algorithm, CQWOA, is proposed. Finally, the CQWOA is used to develop a new berth and quay crane allocation optimization method, T-B&QC_CQWOA. Subsequently, data from an actual seaport container port is used to test the reliability and superiority of the proposed distributing approach and the established optimizing algorithm. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed distributing approach outperforms the classical distribution models that are selected herein, and the CQWOA yields a coordinated schedule of higher quality than the others in the process of solving the model.

Innovations and Developments in Totally Thoracoscopic Cardiac Procedures

New technology is increasing being introduced to minimizing the invasiveness of cardiac surgery. In addition to catheter based interventions and robotic-assisted procedures, totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery (TTCS) has emerged as a new minimally invasive technique in the cardiac surgeons' armamentarium to treat cardiovascular disease. This review summarizes the existing literature on TTCS and provides updates on the exploration and management of TTCS in various cardiac diseases including mitral and tricuspid valve dysfunction, congenital heart defects, tumors, and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Due to small port incisions and high cost-effectiveness, TTCS has been increasingly embraced by both patients and surgeons. This review summarizes the literature on TTCS and how it may minimize the morbidity associated with open cardiac surgical procedures and result in faster recovery and earlier discharge from the hospital.

Changes in efficiency and physical size of container ports: An integration of genetic matching and stochastic data envelopment analysis

Benchmarking container ports of different physical sizes and figuring out the relationship between size and efficiency is complex due to the heterogeneous environment. In dealing with heterogeneity, the selection bias is often overlooked. Therefore, this study proposes an integrated multivariate genetic matching and stochastic DEA algorithm to evaluate the efficiency of container ports. It paves the way for container ports that differ in a selected feature, such as size, to be benchmarked using well-balanced clusters. Thus, the port managers can identify the most similar-featured peers in benchmarking with DEA or alternative models to acquire robust estimates without dependence on a longitudinal data set. The results of the model applied to international container ports imply the increase in size impacts efficiency negatively, while connectivity does positively, which contradicts the commonly held perception of stakeholders that the larger the container ports, the more efficient. That is, well-managed small container ports can also be as efficient. Therefore, it is concluded that the results of integrating genetic matching into the performance measurement provide beneficial inferences. In future research, clustering the observed container ports according to a specific feature and balancing clusters with multivariate genetic matching can provide valuable insights into the industry.

Endoscopic retroperitoneal repair of superior lumbar hernia (Grynfeltt hernia) using self-fixating mesh to prevent nerve injury: a case report

BackgroundThe primary superior lumbar hernia, also called the Grynfeltt Hernia, is a rare entity; hence, a standard surgical repair method has not been established. It is important for this repair procedure not only to prevent recurrence by placing an adequate size of mesh but also to avoid nerve injury. The endoscopic retroperitoneal approach is considered a useful technique for this procedure, requiring no mobilization of the colon and providing good visibility of the surrounding nerves. A self-fixating mesh does not require a traumatic fixation, which is considered advantageous for nerve preservation.Case presentationA 72-year-old woman, complaining of left lumbar swelling, was diagnosed with a primary left superior lumbar hernia and underwent endoscopic retroperitoneal hernia repair. With the patient in the right lateral decubitus position, five small ports were inserted, and the retroperitoneal space was dissected. The 2.0 × 1.0-cm hernial orifice was found, and the 12th subcostal nerve above the hernial orifice and the iliohypogastric and the ilioinguinal nerves below the hernial orifice were identified. A 15 × 10-cm self-fixating mesh was placed in the retroperitoneal space without mesh tacking. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the first postoperative day. Two years after surgery, there was no sign of recurrence, and chronic pain and neuropathic symptoms were absent.ConclusionsEndoscopic retroperitoneal repair of primary superior lumbar hernia using a self-fixating mesh seems to be useful for nerve preservation.

Downtown Toronto’s emergent properties: Exploring new methods for using port records to disaggregate urban metabolism in Toronto, Ontario, 1850-1926

Between 1850 and 1926 Ontario’s capital city, Toronto, grew from a small colonial port to one of the largest cities on the Great Lakes. In this article we introduce a rich time series dataset of ships entering the city’s port and the commodities they carried, explore its potential for urban metabolism research, and consider some of its limitations. We argue that the detail recorded in the ledgers of the Toronto Harbour Master affords multiple temporal and geospatial scales of analysis to study the city’s urban metabolism (e.g. seasonality and consignees of specific commodities), which means historians can use these quantitative sources to move beyond simplistic input-output evaluations and consider the nuance and complexity that characterized the role of the port in the city’s social, economic, and environmental history. We demonstrate that the port was vital to the process of assembling the city even as the railways became dominant in Ontario during the second half of the nineteenth century. As the city grew, the data reveal that the port remained an important node within a broader Great Lakes socioecological system at the same time as it served the city’s downtown and discrete subsystems of its urban metabolism.

The Spatial and Governance Dilemma of Small and Medium-Sized Italian Ports (SMPs): Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) as a Potential Response

The Italian coast has about 700 ports, which are different in typology, dimension, role, and ownership. Historically, this has led to the significant fragmentation of governance and space and a lack of cooperation that ports and cities still experience today. Among all ports, small and medium-sized ports (SMPs), such as marinas, small touristic harbors, and moorings, are the most affected. Unlike the main ports, where spatial and strategic regulation planning fall under the port authority’s responsibilities, SMPs are a combination of public and private management and are, therefore, excluded from national and regional planning and larger strategies. Improving SMPs’ cooperation at the regional level can drive more effective sustainable management among related activities (tourism and the fishing sector) and reduce pressures on the land–sea interaction (LSI). In filling the gaps, this article challenges the existing legal framework, planning tools, approaches, and initiatives and may pave the way to establishing a better-integrated national governance for SMPs. In conclusion, this paper identifies two main opportunities that can support the steady establishment of governance and the systematic harmonized development of these SMPs. The first one is offered by maritime spatial planning (MSP) as a strategic and legal tool whereby SMPs are recognized and, if financially supported, could find incentives and measures for their development. The second one is through European projects, programs, and initiatives such as Framesport as drivers in establishing a common ground among public and private interests and as a cooperation engine at a local scale.

Investigation of the effects of small fishing ports on the shoreline: a case study of Samsun, Turkey

Shoreline change analysis is crucial for identifying coastal issues and understanding their underlying causes. This study focuses on investigating the coastal impacts of the Derekoy Fishing Port in Samsun, a city located on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Temporal changes between 1984 and 2021 were analyzed using Landsat-5 TM/Landsat-8 OLI satellite images in conjunction with image processing and geographic information systems (GIS). Net shoreline movement (NSM), shoreline change envelope (SCE), end point rate (EPR), and linear regression rate (LRR) methods were used to investigate the changes in the shoreline. Polygon overlay analysis was utilized to determine the areas of erosion and accretion. The results indicate that prior to the port's construction, the coast remained relatively stable during the period of 1984–1995. However, sediment accretion occurred on the updrift side of the port, while erosion intensified on the downdrift side during the port's construction from 1995 to 2004. Despite the implementation of coastal protection structures to combat erosion, complete prevention was not achieved, and erosion shifted further eastward. Throughout 1984–2021, approximately 15.62 hectares of beaches were lost due to erosion, with a maximum value of -56.2 m recorded. The coastal erosion and the construction of coastal protection structures have disturbed coastal morphology and resulted in various environmental and socio-economic issues along the 19 Mayis and Atakum beaches. This study reveals the significant consequences of a small fishing port built without proper planning and adequate precautions, drawing attention to the problems.

Implementing decarbonisation measures in Norwegian ports

Despite the extensive literature on port sustainability, empirical research has so far paid limited attention to experiences with implementing measures that contribute to decarbonisation in small and medium-sized ports. This study contributes to the literature by investigating decarbonisation measures implemented by Norwegian ports, and drivers and barriers that ports associate with such efforts. We rely on a unique dataset of survey responses from 96 Norwegian port organisations, supplemented with insights from qualitative research. We find that most ports have implemented at least one measure that contributes to decarbonisation. Most prominent is shore power, followed by increased energy efficiency. We find that support from owners and surroundings is prominent in decarbonisation efforts and that political guidelines and steering from port owners are important drivers. Heterogeneity in port types and contexts implies that further empirical research is needed. This study calls for raising the role of ports in the energy transition on the political agenda.

AHP기법을 활용한 국내 중소항만의 경쟁력 제고 방안에 관한 연구

Purpose: This study derives the factors necessary for the Pohang Yeongilman Port to secure competitiveness as a small or medium-sized port.
 Research design, data, and methodology: By conducting AHP and IPA, the model from this study sets the top factors in four areas: specialized port development, port operation efficiency, port hinterland development and strengthening of connections, and activation of marine tourism and water-friendly functions.
 Results: Among the top factors, specialized port development was identified as the most important, and results were derived in the following order: development and strengthening of the port hinterland, port operational efficiency, and activation of marine tourism and waterfriendly functions.
 Conclusions: All Pohang Yeongilman Port stakeholders recognize the important factors for port development, but perceive low satisfaction with performance.

Spatial heterogeneity among different-sized port communities in directed-weighted global liner shipping network

Global liner shipping network (GLSN) serves as the backbone of international commerce. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and regional integration, regionalization has become one of the dominant trends of the GLSN's structure. This study detected 27 practical relevant port communities within the directed-weighted GLSN using the Infomap algorithm. Based on the community structure of the GLSN, we identified the provincial, gateway, and connector hubs, considering the balance and intensity of the inbound and outbound shipping routes. To highlight the smaller communities obtained in this study, those practical relevant port communities are further differentiated into 7 large and 20 small port communities. The spatial heterogeneity among different-sized port communities is investigated regarding geographical distribution, topological properties, functional characteristics, etc. The large port community is typically formed in major trading regions with well-developed hub-and-spoke networks. They are the principal market in which most liner operators participate in it. Some small port communities lying along the main lane of seaborne container trades also play pivotal roles in the GLSN with many liner companies involved. While other small port communities located peripherally only connect to a few surrounding port communities. The spatial heterogeneity among different-sized port communities is mainly caused by the unbalanced distribution of seaborne container trades. These findings offer new insights into the community structure and its spatial heterogeneity within the GLSN, which can provide stakeholders with practical implications.

ENERGY SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SMALL PORTS

The purpose of the article is to describe a prototype system for managing energy security in small ports based on the use of IT technology. Additional evaluation of the usability of the described sytem will be carried out based on the main pillars of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, which include the integration of advanced information technology (IT), automation (OT), "Internet of Things" (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This affects IT systems, which are becoming more complex and sophisticated all the time. This causes an increase in dependencies - the more complex the information system, the more complex the security must be.In the described system there will be the use of a modular system of hybrid installation of renewable energy sources mainly from wind energy, photovoltaics and biogas, stored in an energy storage. Based on the use of energy storage and management of technology through a secure intelligent information network, the needs for storage and secure transmission of information and data, green electricity production, in accordance with the priorities of the European Union (green energy, green transformation European data strategy) will be described. The article also presents the types of renewable energy sources (RES) in relation to the use of systems supporting their management. The author will also try to answer the question whether such measures will significantly strengthen the energy security of a modern organization.

Particle circulation and coating in a Wurster fluidized bed under different geometries

The performance of particle coating is essentially determined by the morphology and uniformity of coating shells, which significantly depend on particle circulation. In this study, the geometry of a Wurster fluidized bed is changed by regulating particle circulation port size and nozzle position, and their effects on particle circulation and coating properties are investigated by combining coating experiments and CFD – Discrete Element Model (DEM). By increasing the circulation port size, the particle circulation rate first increases then decreases slightly, accordingly, the uniformity of particle circulation increases then decreases, while the shell porosity decreases. By increasing the nozzle height, the particle circulation rate decreases slightly, accordingly, the uniformity of particle circulation increases then decreases, while the shell porosity decreases. At extremes with a too small circulation port size or too high nozzle position, particle residence and cycle time distribution are broader, and an obvious nonuniformity of particle growth is observed.

Analysis of Competitiveness of Small Ports of the Azov-Black Sea Basin in Multimodal Transportation: Technological Aspects, Transportation Problem Optimisation

A new approach is proposed to the study of functioning of the connecting and transforming link of the multimodal transport and logistics chain, implemented by railway cargo transportation. The methodological basis of the research is classical principles of egalitarianism in the theory of welfare, which allow, based on assessment of the transport and technological infrastructure of the network segment and tariff rates, to build mathematical models that are economically justified, customer-oriented and in demand in management of cargo transportation processes. An algorithm for solving a multi-criteria and multi-extremal problem of integer linear programming with a set of cost objective functions has been developed in the medium of the analytical computing system. The computational experiment is used as a guiding heuristic tool in finding the optimal level of organization and economic efficiency of the cargo transportation process.Optimal combinations of distributions of the number of departure routes per loading stations and related plans of transportation to the reloading stations were found with the help of the Pareto criterion. The obtained values of cost indicators provide the participants of the transportation process with the opportunity to choose competitive options in transportation schemes using small port transshipment stations of the Azov-Black Sea basin.