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an Freight: Ports as Inhibitors and Enablers of Global Supply Chain Ecosystems EXCLUSIVE STUDY
Port related neptune EXCLUSIVE STUDY 7
Challenges
inhibiting
supply chain
ecosystems
Already under pressure from steadily increasing container traffic,
more ports are suffering from congestion. The causes are many and
varied and there is no simple answer as demand for container
shipping will continue to increase and the advent of even larger
capacity vessels will make the situation more critical.
Research into the causes of port congestion by Schwitzer & Martens
identified numerous non-vessel issues such as poor port
management, labour relations, scheduling, loading and unloading
procedures and equipment, truck driver shortages, traffic systems,
customs delays and pollution issues as inhibitors to smooth transit
of cargoes through the port community system.
As discussed, numerous variables can impede the throughput
efficiency of cargo transiting through a container port, many of
which are outside the direct control of the port operator.
During 2014, the industry has experienced a range of port related
challenges inhibiting supply chain ecosystems, including:
On time vessel arrival - average reliability across all carriers in the
Asia-Europe trade lane declined from a high of 83 per cent on-time port
calls in mid-2012 to just 51 per cent on-time in the first quarter of 2014.
If ships arrive ‘out of window’, then terminal operators may not have the
space or facilities ready to receive them, resulting in further delays.
Port Congestion - according to Drewry Maritime Research, the North
European ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg are experiencing significant
congestion, raising the question as to whether port congestion
problems are just temporary, or indicative of a new paradigm for the
industry? The current congestion difficulties of Rotterdam and Hamburg
are partly because terminal capacity is being affected by work to
upgrade existing facilities.
MARK MILLAR
Port related neptune EXCLUSIVE STUDY 7
Challenges
inhibiting
supply chain
ecosystems
Already under pressure from steadily increasing container traffic,
more ports are suffering from congestion. The causes are many and
varied and there is no simple answer as demand for container
shipping will continue to increase and the advent of even larger
capacity vessels will make the situation more critical.
Research into the causes of port congestion by Schwitzer & Martens
identified numerous non-vessel issues such as poor port
management, labour relations, scheduling, loading and unloading
procedures and equipment, truck driver shortages, traffic systems,
customs delays and pollution issues as inhibitors to smooth transit
of cargoes through the port community system.
As discussed, numerous variables can impede the throughput
efficiency of cargo transiting through a container port, many of
which are outside the direct control of the port operator.
During 2014, the industry has experienced a range of port related
challenges inhibiting supply chain ecosystems, including:
On time vessel arrival - average reliability across all carriers in the
Asia-Europe trade lane declined from a high of 83 per cent on-time port
calls in mid-2012 to just 51 per cent on-time in the first quarter of 2014.
If ships arrive ‘out of window’, then terminal operators may not have the
space or facilities ready to receive them, resulting in further delays.
Port Congestion - according to Drewry Maritime Research, the North
European ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg are experiencing significant
congestion, raising the question as to whether port congestion
problems are just temporary, or indicative of a new paradigm for the
industry? The current congestion difficulties of Rotterdam and Hamburg
are partly because terminal capacity is being affected by work to
upgrade existing facilities.
MARK MILLAR
