PortStudies
PortStudies
PortStudies
LNG bunkering solutions in ports
LNG as a marine fuel represent a viable solution for making the maritime and port industry more sustainable, as it allows reducing emissions and pollutants, such as SOx and NOx, compared with traditional fuels. Although a number of academics and practitioners has addressed the phenomenon, by investigating environmental, social economic and financial issues related to the adoption of LNG-propulsion systems in the shipping sector, prior studies predominantly assumed a ship-owner or a shipping company’ perspective. Conversely, the analysis of...
PortStudies
Measurement of port performance from users’ perspective
Going beyond the usual approach of measuring port performance – focusing on the efficiency of port operations – the latest port study of PortEconomics member George Vaggelas, aims to look into shipping lines and other port users’ perceptions on port performance. The study develops a framework measuring the perceptions of port users (i.e. shipping companies, shippers, etc.) on port performance. A typology of elements that shape port users’ perceptions has been developed with an eye on capturing the peculiarities of different port...
PortStudies
Inter–organisational relationships of European port management entities
Port management entities, -or, Port Authorities, in a most accustomed context are increasingly involved in collaborations with other ports, commercial entities and institutions. As Port Authorities (PAs) ‘go international’ via several strategies, they expand collaborations well beyond the notion of proximity. While they continue to be involved in various forms of collaboration with ports and other entities located in nearby proximate regions, they also seek to establish and benefit by relationships with geographically non-proximate ports...
PortStudies
Report on port activity of Latin America and the Caribbean 2018
Container throughput in ports of Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 7.7% in 2018 in comparison with the previous year, according to Port Activity Report of Latin America and the Caribbean 2018 by ECLAC. This analysis is based on the performance of a sampling of 31 countries and 118 ports and port areas in the region. According to the data of the sampling compiled by ECLAC, in 2018 the East Coast of South America (ECSA) recorded a 12% increase in the activity of ports and port areas, measured in terms of volume. Meanwhile,...
PortStudies
Models of cruise ports governance
The last two decades the structure, strategies, and operational frameworks of cruise ports changed in too many respects. Infrastructure renewal and construction has been accompanied by a wave of reform in cruise ports governance. Cruise ports management has matured with sophisticated strategies involving port professionals and linked port service providers and stakeholders. Operational practices have been reformed serving the changing features of the deployed (bigger) vessels and the modern cruise product. The reorganisations have in...
PortStudies
Ιnternationalization of port managing bodies
PortEconomics members Michaël Dooms, Larissa Van Der Lugt, Francesco Parola, Giovanni Satta, joined by Dong-Wook Song (World Maritime University) in their latest port study, published at the scientific journal Maritime Policy and Management, aimed to establish a framework being conceptually able to explain a variety of internationalization strategies and related activities employed by port managing bodies (PMBs), as defined by the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) in 2018, considering their hybrid nature. Having identified a potential to...
PortStudies
The Nicaragua Canal: potential impact on international shipping and its attendant challenges
The construction of an interoceanic canal in Nicaragua, a longstanding controversy, has once again become a source of concern in recent years, in both the global shipping industry and the world at large. Since the canal was green-lighted by the Nicaraguan government, scientists and specialists have sharply criticized its potential to inflict lasting environmental and societal damage. The vocal doubts raised by many experts regarding the canal’s feasibility have resulted in several recent postponements of construction. Studies of the...
PortStudies
Are container volumes in transhipment hubs more volatile than in gateway ports?
PortEconomics members Theo Notteboom, Francesco Parola and Giovanni Satta co-authored a study "The relationship between transhipment incidence and throughput volatility in North European and Mediterranean container ports". This study has recently been published in Journal of Transport Geography (74, pages 371-381). It is often argued that ports with a high sea-sea transhipment share (T/S) are more vulnerable than gateway ports which rely more on hinterland cargo. It is less clear whether the vulnerability of T/S oriented container ports...
PortStudies