PortStudies
PortStudies
PortStudies
Evaluating port authorities reform
The activities of a port authority form but one of several factors that can con- tribute to the competitiveness of a port. A port authority can increase its contribution by optimising the various functions it performs in a facilitating and entrepreneurial manner. Port authority reform matters in that it must set the right governance framework for port authorities to achieve their full potential contribution to the competitiveness of their ports. PortEconomics member Patrick Verhoeven, joined by Eddy van de Voorde proceed to an ex-post...
PortStudies
Are US ports ready for Panama canal expansion?
US ports prepare for Panama Canal expansion, and PortEconomics associate member Grace Wang examines the degree of readiness to accept Post-Panamax vessels after the new set of locks begins operation in 2015, in a report published with sponsorship from the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The report focuses on nine container ports on the nation's East and South coasts: the East Coast ports of New York and New Jersey and Baltimore; the Southeast ports of Virginia, Charleston and Savannah; the Florida ports of Miami,...
PortStudies
Strategies in maritime and port logistics
In recent decades, the strategic thinking of shipping lines, private port firms and port authorities has been approached from various analytical perspectives. The introduction of constructs and theories from management research has allowed maritime and port studies to make substantial progress in the understanding of firms' behaviour, organizational challenges and public–private interactions. In particular, management disciplines such as strategic management, operations management, human resources management and environmental management have...
PortStudies
The role of port authorities in the adoption of LNG as a ship fuel
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) serves as an attractive fuel for ships to meet the upcoming stringent environmental regulations enacted by IMO, particularly at the level of emission control areas (ECA). The use of LNG promises a good environmental performance and a foreseeable economic viability. However, a general absence of bunkering infrastructure in seaports is a significant barrier currently preventing the breakthrough of the use of LNG as a ship fuel. Against this backdrop, PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom together with Siyuan...
PortStudies
River tourism development: the case of the port of Brussels
River tourism becomes for many ports an important development area that often requires additional infrastructure investments. As such there is a need to understand whether such investments are legitimized by the expected economic impacts. To this end, PortEconomics member Michael Dooms and PortEconomics associate member Elvira Haezendonck along with Mitchell van Balen (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Business, Unit Management and Strategy), in their latest port-study titled "River tourism development: The case of the port of...
PortStudies
Container port competition in Europe
The port competition in Europe with a main focus on container ports and terminals, is the theme of discussion of the latest port study of PortEconomics co-directors Theo Notteboom and Peter De Langen. Theo's and Peter's contribution entitled Container Port Competition in Europe published in the Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics, International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, edited by Chung-Yee, Lee and Qiang Meng (Springer, 2015). Port competition has become a complex and multi-faceted concept...
PortStudies
International maritime transport costs: market structures and network configuration
'States and nations are redefining their place in the world at the present time in the wake of the economic, political and cultural transnationalization processes that have occurred in recent decades. Each country, each region is seeking to recast its role and potential in accord with its geographical location, its history and the times. This positioning is, of course, conditioned by multiple factors, which include conditions of production, economic and political interests and transport-related issues especially. Maritime transport is the...
PortStudies
Cruise ports: structures and strategies
The cruise industry has witnessed an uninterrupted growth over the last thirty years. An industry focused on the United States and the Caribbean emerged progressively as a global industry transporting close to 21 million passengers in 2013. While the global financial crisis of 2008–09 had a major impact over maritime shipping, cruise shipping and cruise ports continued to enjoy a steadily rising number of passengers. This growth continues with innovative, feature-rich ships, the use of an increasing number of ports of call and turnaround...
PortStudies