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Containerization is a seesaw game
Almost from its inception, there has been a clear upward trend in the disruptive force of the container during its use. However, a relative decrease in container movement has been seen in recent years, the explanation of which goes beyond disturbances in the world economy. PortEconomics member Ricardo J. Sánchez along with Eliana Barleta, note that the inter-annual change in throughput with respect to changes in GDP is declining. To understand this phenomenon, Ricardo and Eliana have examined variations in containerization, notably factors...
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The innovation ecosystem: an often undervalued driver of port competitiveness
The innovation ecosystem as an undervalued driver of port competitiveness presented PortEconomics co-director Peter de Langen during the 107th AAPA Convention hosted by port and the city of Valparaíso, Chile in 7-10 October 2018. Peter gave emphasis in the at the importance of the ecosystems services and the industries that can be attracted to the port ecosystem, while he presented the integrated approach to innovation performance of the port complex via a graphic. Download Peter's presentation and find out more!...
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The geography of port terminal automation
By Jean-Paul Rodrigue Automation is an emerging trend in port terminal development, but taking place at different scale, pace and locations. There are various degrees of automation and in many ways automation is present in a large number of terminals depending how it is defined and if it focuses on infrastructure (e.g. stacking cranes) or information systems (e.g. yard management). The most common definition classifies terminals as fully or semi automated, which is a rather partial one. For instance, a fully automated terminals is...
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The deepening of the Elbe river: game changer for Hamburg?
By Theo Notteboom Recently, it was announced that the project to deepen and widen the river Elbe, the nautical access to the port of Hamburg, got the green light. The river Elbe was deepened for the last time in 1999. The idea to improve the nautical conditions on the Elbe is on the table already for many years but project approval was stalled due to environmental issues and procedural complexities. Dredging projects are sensitive in political, port and community circles given the investments involved and the associated economic and...
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Digitalisation drives modernisation of maritime trade
Pierre Cariou was involved in organising the ISLI Supply Chain Forum, “Emerging Challenges in a Complex Future”, held at the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux in March 2018. One of the panel discussions moderated by Pierre Cariou focused on the digitalisation of shipping supply chains. Dominique Lebreton, MGI chief business development officer, also spoke about Channel 5 and artificial intelligence. Focus on the conclusions of this panel discussion. What are the impacts of digitalisation on the maritime sector? For the forum, we...
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The Analyst: we need more mavericks in ports
By Peter de Langen In various previous columns I have argued that port development is often ‘emergent’ rather than planned. Often, there is a huge gap between the port development plans on paper, and the realised port development. Of course, this is not unique to port development, but a common characteristic of most companies: the strategy emerges out of executed projects. If we accept this take on port development, it follows that port authorities/port development companies need ‘mavericks’, people that do not follow the...
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Blockchains for logistics: from hype to relevance?
By Jean-Paul Rodrigue An artificial consensus While presenting at recent transportation trade conferences I expressed rather skeptical views about the potential of Blockchains for logistics, which raised a few eyebrows and critiques. The industry is currently drinking its own cool-aid and caught in the standard hype cycle where the benefits of a new technology are exaggerated while the complexity and costs of its implementation are discounted. Many do not understand well what it entails from a technological, managerial and operational...
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Towards smarter port-city stakeholder collaboration?
A better understanding of what matters to whom… from the Court to the Cloud! The emergence of the expansion mindset Port managing bodies and the cities located near or around them often have long, common histories of joint economic and social development. For a number of ports, this has been extensively documented by researchers in economic and social history. Often, port development, through mostly outward expansion projects has led, especially during the second half of the 20thcentury, to great sacrifices by surrounding local...
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