On 14 May 2013, Portius is organising a one-day conference on Port Labour in the European Union. The reform of port labour has been on the European agenda for almost 25 years. In 1991, the Court of Justice found the Italian dock labour scheme to be contrary to the European treaty rules. Ten years later, the European Commission unveiled its first liberalisation plans. However, the European Parliament has since twice rejected a proposed liberalisation directive for ports, with protest from dock workers playing an influential role. In preparation of a new European ports policy, the European Commission commissioned the port law institute Portius to conduct an in-depth study of port labour in the twenty-two maritime Member States of the European Union. This has resulted in a groundbreaking 1,400-page report that is to be premiered at a special seminar on 14 May 2013. The study deals with the organisation of the labour market, training and health and safety, and it inventories a wealth of statistics, laws and regulations, employment systems and critical issues. It outlines possible future European policy actions, ranging from a do-nothing approach to the development of a special Port Labour Regulation. The European Commission will offer the study as its input to the forthcoming European social dialogue, a new formal consultation structure for employers and employees at European level, which will be officially launched later this year. At the end of the conference, the European Commission will present its views on port labour and social dialogue in the context of the forthcoming new European ports policy. The participants in the proposed European social dialogue will be invited to give an initial response. The final speeches will be delivered by the European Commissioner for ports (invited). The conference offers participants a unique opportunity to become acquainted with law, practice…

The School of Industrial Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology is looking for a PhD candidate to be supervised by PortEconomics co-director Prof. dr. Peter de Langen (Chair Cargo Transport & Logistics), in the area of Operations Management.  The selected candidate will work withing the group Operations, Planning, Accounting and Control (OPAC) conducting research in the area of Operations Management, with specific emphasis on: Planning and Control in Manufacturing, Services, and Supply Chains; Distribution Logistics; Maintenance and Reliability; Finance and Accounting, oriented towards operational processes Research is generally quantitative in nature, while many of the researchers also engage in empirical research. All research is embedded in Beta, the KNAW-recognized research school for Operations Management & Logistics. Tasks The Chair Cargo Transport & Logistics is financed by the Province North Brabant and engages in industry- and policy oriented research in the field of freight transport and logistics. The current vacancy is for a PhD student that wants to do research on the crossroads of theory and practice. Given the required interaction with industry we look for a hands on and goal oriented candidate. Key qualities are: creative, self-starter, initiative, goal oriented, and cooperative. The OPAC offers a PhD position in a strong research group, with strong links to the industry as well as other leading international universities. A stay abroad is potentially part of the PhD project. Also OPAC offers a strong supervisory team that is committed to innovative and high quality research. This environment enables a candidate to excel in research. The PhD student is expected to do research that leads to academic papers and after four years in a PhD. The precise research topic needs to be defined jointly by the Province of Noord-Brabant, the promoters and the PhD candidate. Broadly speaking, the topic will explore the development of new intermodal services (see attached details). The candidate also participates in the PhD education…

UNCTAD has published the Review of Maritime Transport 2012- a review that has provided 44 years of uninterrupted coverage of the key developments affecting international seaborne trade, ports, shipping, the world fleet, freight markets, and transport-related regulatory and legal frameworks. UNCTAD's Review also covers inland transport and intermodal connections. In common with previous issues, the 2012 Review contains critical analysis and a wealth of unique data, including long-term data series on port handling activities.  Chapter 4 discusses port development, includes tables of port ranking, provides details on liner shipping connectivity via the ports of the world and a section on port development outlook in different sectors of port services.  This year's Review notes that world seaborne trade grew by 4 per cent in 2011, whereas the tonnage of the world fleet grew at a greater rate, by almost 10 per cent. With supply outstripping demand, freight rates fell even further, to unprofitable levels for most shipping companies. For importers and exporters, however, the low freight rates helped to reduce transaction costs, which is important for helping to revive global trade. You might download the review @ UNCTAD's websit: Review of Maritime Transport 2012

International Journal of Shipping and Transport logistics, the scholarly Journal published by Inderscinece, is calling for papers for a special issue on Managerial Complexity in Shipping and Port Markets, to be co-edited by the members of the PortEconomics team Francesco Parola and Pierre Cariou. Topics to be covered include but are not limited to: • Growth strategies of ocean carriers and terminal operators• Port authority strategies• Port governance models and mechanisms• "Blue ocean" strategies in shipping and ports• Emerging market opportunities and trends• Competition and co-operation in shipping and ports• Economies of scale and cost leadership strategies• Vertical integration in shipping and transport logistics• Sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in shipping and ports Those interested in contributing to the special issue, need to note that the submission deadline is: 1 August, 2013. For more information contact the editors of the special issue: Francesco Parolla , or Pierre Cariou, or visit the Journal's Special Issue webpage.