Viewpoints
Viewpoints
Viewpoints
Container vessel turnaround times across the world
There is a wide range of studies on port efficiency but curiously enough, these studies have never focused on turnaround times in ports, despite this being considered as a key indicator of efficiency. More often we see studies in operations research about queuing models of vessels in relation to port entrance channels and berth allocation and productivity, but there is a drastic lack of systematic reporting and analyses of ship turnaround times. In an article published in Port Technolgy International , PortEconomics associate...
Viewpoints
Liner shipping markets, networks & strategies: implications for port development on South America
Port infrastructure and the quality of shipping services in a region or country are important determinants for the countries integration in the global market and the competitiveness of the same. PortEconomics associate member Gordon Wilmsmeir analyses the evolution of symptoms of change in the liner shipping industry within South America and more particularly on the West Coast, as direct drivers for port infrastructure and port system development - in a study which was first presented at the OECD Port Investment and Container Shipping...
Viewpoints
The Panama canal today: impacts on world economy and competition
PortEconomics member Jean-Paul Rodrigue delivered a keynote presentation on the impacts of the Panama Canal on world economy and competition, during the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) that was held in Washington DC, January 12-16, 2014. Jean-Paul discussed the impacts of transoceacnic passages and canals, the several induced and derived demand questions, Panama's changing role in the global economy, the challenges to the expansion of the Panama Canal and many more issues about the legacy and future of the...
Viewpoints
The Analyst: P3 - more ports, less terminals?
The P3 alliance between Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM will have a significant impact on ports worldwide, but who will win and who will lose? PortEconomics co-director Peter de Langen discusses the move that might change maritime transport systems around the globe, and its implication for ports and terminals, in his Analyst viewpoint column published in the magazine PortStrategy. Peter analyses why "while at first sight P3 seems to have a clearly defined scope for an operational partnership with the joint...
Viewpoints
The 'humble hero' of the global economy: containers
By Jean-Paul Rodrigue PortEconomics member Jean-Paul Rodrigue discusses the role of the hero of the global economy, the container, and how our access to global trade goods resembles the Melanesian cargo cult, without the rituals - in a viewpoint article published in Al Jazeera America. As Jean-Paul states: "Globalization may have inadvertently spread the belief that goods appear on the shelves of retail stores spontaneously, or at least without much effort. For an average consumer, the ease of each purchase, particularly an online purchase,...
Viewpoints
Considering the perspectives of port users
PortEconomics members Mary Brooks and Thanos Pallis discuss the need for "Considering port users perspectives" in a viewpoint article publised in Port Technolgy International . The quest for performance measurement has always been a key issue for ports. Port managers, whether port authorities or terminal operators, need to organise complex processes in an efficient and effective way in order to find the best ways to capture value for their customers and address the concerns of stakeholders. In their contribution Mary and Thanos discusse the...
Viewpoints
Med ports: MoS and the efficient accommodation of mega-containerships
PortEconomics co-director Peter de Langen gave a key-note speech at the Euro Mediterranean Forum in Livorno, Italy, on opportunities for Mediterranean ports to take advantage of the Motorways of the Seas and efficiently accommodate mega-containerships The event brought together a large group of industry experts from Europe, to discuss important issues like the challenges ahead for Mediterranean ports and port cooperation potentialities, the extension of Motorways of the Sea to Southern Mediterranean countries, and the views of the port...
Viewpoints
Enhancing terminal operations, hinterland access & logistics chains
PortEconomics member Jean-Paul Rodrigue contributed in the Port Technolgy International , an article on "Enhancing terminal operations, hinterland accesss and logistics chains". Source: Jean Paul Rodrigue (2013). Enhancing terminal operations, hinterland access and logistics chains. Port Technology International, No. 59. It is difficult to argue against strategies that reduce costs while improving the performance of supply chains. However, assessing the value of such improvements is challenging. While 'beauty is in the eye of the...
Viewpoints