Search Results (67)

The maritime sector’s transition to sustainable energy is critical for achieving global carbon neutrality, with container terminals representing a key focus due to their high energy consumption and emissions. This study explores the potential of hydrogen energy as a decarbonization solution for port operations, using the Chuanshan Port Area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port (CPANZP) as a case study. Through a comprehensive analysis of hydrogen production, storage, refueling, and consumption technologies, we demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of integrating hydrogen systems into port infrastructure. Our findings highlight the successful deployment of a hybrid “wind-solar-hydrogen-storage” energy system at CPANZP, which achieves 49.67% renewable energy contribution and an annual reduction of 22,000 tons in carbon emissions. Key advancements include alkaline water electrolysis with 64.48% efficiency, multi-tier hydrogen storage systems, and fuel cell applications for vehicles and power generation. Despite these achievements, challenges such as high production costs, infrastructure scalability, and data integration gaps persist. The study underscores the importance of policy support, technological innovation, and international collaboration to overcome these barriers and accelerate the adoption of hydrogen energy in ports worldwide. This research provides actionable insights for port operators and policymakers aiming to balance operational efficiency with sustainability goals. Full article

Maritime trade in Bangladesh is growing significantly, as observed by UNCTAD, which reported 3.20 mTEUs throughput in 2022. Additionally, the principal seaport, Chattogram Port, reported a port throughput of 3.27 mTEUs in 2024, the historical record for any port in Bangladesh. More than 50% of imports and exports, including empty containers, were handled in 2024 through 19 nos close dry ports in Chattogram City by applying small-scale intermodal systems, where the performance of pure intermodal from/to mid-range dry ports (3 Nos) to Chattogram Port is 2.53%. By 2030, the government wants all import and export operations to be conducted through dry ports. Furthermore, the current volume of international goods freight cannot be handled by the dry ports that are currently in place. This research applied mixed methods to explore the opportunities to set more dry ports and the application of intermodal systems for increasing the seaport’s efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method was used to know the dry port location, investment, and policy in creating the opportunity to set up more dry ports in Bangladesh. In the findings, 82.50% of participants agreed that existing facilities are not enough and need to establish more dry ports to handle current and future volumes of containers. Moreover, the responses reveal a division of opinion on establishing a dry port outside of Chattogram, with a notable inclination towards opposition. According to 62% of respondents, dry ports outside Chattogram are necessary. To enhance intermodal connectivity and facilitate easier cargo transfers between ports and hinterland regions, integrated infrastructure development would be in line with national economic objectives. The research aims to investigate the possibilities for establishing additional dry ports across the country to boost seaport productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness by utilizing intermodal freight transportation systems to cut costs and time while also considering environmental factors like CO₂ emissions. Full article

The sea–rail intermodal container terminal serves as a key transportation hub for green logistics, where efficient resource coordination directly enhances multimodal connectivity and operational synergy. To address limited storage capacity and trans-shipment inefficiencies, this study innovatively proposes a resource-sharing strategy between the seaport and the railway container terminal, focusing on the joint allocation of yard space and internal trucks. For indirect trans-shipment operations between ships, the port, the railway container terminal, and trains, a mixed-integer programming model is formulated with the objective of minimizing the container trans-shipment cost and the weighted turnaround time of ships and trains. This model simultaneously determines yard allocation, container transfers, and truck allocation. A two-layer hybrid heuristic algorithm incorporating adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization and Greedy Rules is designed. Numerical experiments verify the model and algorithm performance, revealing that the proposed method achieves an optimality gap of only 1.82% compared to CPLEX in small-scale instances while outperforming benchmark algorithms in solution quality. And the shared yard strategy enhances ship and train turnaround efficiency by an average of 33.45% over traditional storage form. Sensitivity analysis considering multiple realistic factors further confirms the robustness and generalizability. This study provides a theoretical foundation for sustainable port–railway collaboration development. Full article

Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) is an adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Some mastectomized women undergoing PMRT can have breast reconstruction with expander implant reconstruction. However, the expander implant contains a magnetic metal port for its inflation, and in patients with a high risk of recurrence, the PMRT is performed before the expander replacement. The difficulties in radiation treatment near high-Z metals are mainly due to dose alterations around them. Therefore, this study proposes using a realistic breast phantom and gel dosimetry to investigate the effects of the metallic parts of the expandable prosthesis on the 3D delivery of the treatment. A conformal radiation treatment was planned and delivered to the gel phantom with the metal port. MAGIC-f gel was used with magnetic resonance imaging for dose assessment. The treatment plan dose distribution was compared to the measured dose distribution by gamma analysis (3%/3 mm/15% threshold). A significant gamma fail region was found near the metal port, corresponding to a dose reduction of approximately 5%. This underdose is within the tolerance threshold for dose heterogeneity established by the International Commission on Radiation Units (ICRU), but should be considered when treating these patients. Full article

The global containerisation industry, while significantly advancing international trade, faces persistent challenges related to infrastructure capacity, environmental impact, and operational efficiency. One critical yet under-researched issue is the physical damage that containers endure during handling operations, particularly at port terminals. This paper examines the complexities of container handling, focusing on damage caused by quay crane activities, especially during corner hooking. Such damage compromises container integrity, impacts cargo safety, and increases operational costs. To address these concerns, we present the Impact Detection Methodology (IDM), a system designed to monitor and detect impacts in real time, enhancing operational precision and safety. Preliminary studies conducted at Klaipeda City port demonstrate the IDM’s effectiveness, though limited data have constrained validation. Our research underscores the need for broader experimentation to confirm the IDM’s potential in mitigating container damage. Key findings indicate that unsuccessful hooking attempts predominantly occur when containers are lifted from above-deck positions, influenced by spreader oscillations and high operational workloads. This paper also highlights the importance of integrating sway control systems with existing crane management technologies to assist operators in reducing handling errors. Enhanced monitoring and data analysis are essential for improving container handling processes, supporting sustainable growth in global containerisation, and mitigating financial risks. Full article

(1) Background: The reliability of port equipment is of significant interest to industry stakeholders due to the economic and logistical factors governing the operation of maritime container terminals. Failures of key equipment like quay cranes can halt operations or cause economically significant delays. (2) Methods: The impact assessment of these disruptive events is conducted through terminal activity modeling and discrete-event simulation of internal processes. The system’s steady-state or transient condition, induced by disruptive events, is statistically assessed within a set of scenarios proposed by the authors. (3) Results: The Heidelberg–Welch and Geweke tests enabled the evaluation of steady-state and transient conditions within the modeled system, which was affected by the reduced reliability of container-handling equipment. (4) Conclusions: The research findings confirmed the usefulness of modeling and simulation in assessing the impact of equipment reliability on maritime container terminal operations. If the magnitude of the disruptive event exceeds the terminal’s absorption capacity, the system may become blocked or remain in a transient state without the ability to recover. This underscores the necessity of analyzing the reliability of critical handling equipment and implementing corrective maintenance actions when required. Full article

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims for net zero emissions in shipping by 2050. Ports, key links in the supply chain, are embracing green innovation, focusing on efficient berth and quay crane scheduling to support green port development amid limited resources. Additionally, the energy consumption and carbon emissions from the port shipping industry contribute significantly to environmental challenges and the sustainable development of ports. Therefore, reducing carbon emissions, particularly those generated during vessel berthing, has become a pressing task for the industry. The increasing complexity of berth allocation now requires compliance to vessel service standards while controlling carbon emissions. This study presents an integrated model that incorporates tidal factors into the joint optimization of berth and quay crane operations, addressing both service standards and emissions during port stays and crane activities, and further designs a PSO-GA hybrid algorithm, combining particle swarm optimization (PSO) with crossover and mutation operators from a genetic algorithm (GA), to enhance optimization accuracy and efficiency. Numerical experiments using actual data from a container terminal demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the PSO-GA algorithm compared to the traditional GA and PSO. The results show a reduction in total operational costs by 24.1% and carbon emissions by 15.3%, highlighting significant potential savings and environmental benefits for port operators. Furthermore, the findings reveal the critical role of tidal factors in improving berth and quay crane scheduling. The results provide decision-making support for the efficient operation and carbon emission control of green ports. Full article

This research presents a comprehensive analysis of sustainable port operations in two countries, utilizing econometric models, including the stochastic frontier and Cobb–Douglas models, to examine critical elements such as the number of empty containers and vessel traffic. These factors, driven by globalization, significantly impact the environmental and social dynamics within port operations. By integrating these models, this study assesses efficiency and sustainability, addressing methodological gaps in existing research, particularly in the quantification and generalization of CO₂ emissions. Findings indicate that, despite differences in port management and operations, CO₂ levels can be estimated using operational variables without the need for complete CO₂ traceability throughout the logistics chain. This study concludes by emphasizing the importance of incorporating international environmental standards into port operations and recommends the use of econometric models as tools for assessing and managing port sustainability effectively. Full article

This study examines the role of bulk cargo ports in improving supply chain efficiency within the Bohai Rim port cluster in China, addressing a gap in the research that has primarily focused on container ports. By analyzing 13 ports in the cluster through the shiftrate model and network analysis, this research aims to understand their adaptation to changing trade patterns and economic conditions. The Bohai Rim is a key hub for four major bulk cargo types—grain, coal, oil, and ore—each with distinct growth rates and trade networks. This research classifies the ports into four tiers based on their operational capabilities and market influence. Key findings reveal that the cargo transport network has shifted from a tri-power structure (Dalian, Tianjin–Tangshan, Qingdao–Rizhao port groups) to a dual-core pattern, now led by Tangshan and Qingdao Ports. Qingdao Port, with its advanced technologies and international orientation, has become a central player in global dry bulk transport. This shift reflects the changing dynamics of regional trade, with Qingdao’s port technologies and global connectivity positioning it as a leader in the industry. This study provides valuable insights for port authorities, helping them understand the evolution of port systems and enhance the efficiency of neighboring ports. Full article

The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce CO₂ emissions, with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) setting a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from the port sector, by 40% by 2030. However, accurate and reliable methods for estimating CO₂ emissions at container ports, which are significant contributors to maritime emissions, are still lacking. This study aims to address this by evaluating a novel method for estimating CO₂ emissions at container ports. The proposed method utilizes the cargo handling equipment movement theory, quantifying both vertical and horizontal movements based on the amount of container handling equipment at the port. The emissions for each piece of equipment are estimated by multiplying the movement quantity by the respective emission factor. To validate the model, a robustness test compares the estimated CO₂ emissions with actual energy consumption data from the port. A case study was conducted at a container port with an annual capacity of over 500,000 TEUs and a parallel layout type. The estimated CO₂ emissions were approximately 8183 tons per year, with container cranes contributing 56%, rubber-tire gantry cranes contributing 27%, terminal trucks contributing 14%, and reach stackers contributing 3%. The method demonstrated accuracy, with a deviation of less than 1%. This method offers a fast and reliable approach for estimating baseline CO₂ emissions at container ports, providing valuable insights for port authorities and policymakers to develop more effective emission-reduction strategies. Full article

The need for an accurate inventory of ship emissions is vital for atmospheric scientists assessing the environmental impact of shipping and for policymakers aiming to regulate and incentivize emission reduction. This study used data from 189 international ports, related to ship arrivals and departures, to develop emissions inventories. Emission characteristics were examined in detail, classifying emissions by factors like ship type, month, and region. The analysis identified oil tankers and container ships as main emitters among ship categories. A detailed analysis of the monthly distribution of emissions from vessels at berth worldwide was conducted based on precise arrival and departure times. Singapore, Rotterdam, and Antwerp were the ports with the highest emissions from ships at berth. Overall, this study presents the spatial and temporal emission characteristics of ships at berth in 3912 ports around the world, which can support the development of emission reduction strategies in port management. Full article

Ports play an important role in maintaining the effectiveness of maritime logistics. When ports encounter congestion, strikes, or natural disasters, the maritime container transportation network might be significantly affected. The Beibu Gulf sea area is a key channel to supporting China’s participation in international economic cooperation in the western region. It is highly susceptible to the influence of the political and economic instability. This study introduces a dual-component framework to analyze the inherent structure and potential vulnerabilities of the container transportation network in the Beibu Gulf Sea areas. The findings show that the core layer of the network exhibited circular solidification characteristics. The entire network heavily relies on some core ports, such as Haiphong Port, Ho Chi Minh Port, and Qinzhou Port, and it highlights the potential increases in vulnerability. The finding shows that deliberate attacks have a greater impact than random attacks on the normal operations of maritime networks. If ports with high intermediary centrality are attacked, the connectivity and transportation efficiency of the Beibu Gulf maritime network will be significantly affected. However, under such circumstances, redistributing cargo transportation through route adjustments can deal with the transmission of cascading failures and maintain the network’s resilience. Based on the existing knowledge and the data collected in a case study, this research stands out as the first to provide a critical examination of the spatial structure and vulnerability of container shipping networks in the Beibu Gulf sea. Full article

Marine transportation is pivotal in the rapid development of global trade, significantly enhancing international economic and trade connectivity and impacting the sustainable development of the global economy. In this study, we developed a novel technical framework based on the Laplacian matrix to evaluate the node significance and edge connectivity of the global shipping network using 2019 vessel schedule data from the top 30 liner shipping companies, as ranked by Alphaliner. Our analyses were conducted in both L-space, characterizing the connectivity function, and P-space, characterizing the transfer function. The findings indicate the following. (1) There is no consistent relationship between node significance and centrality for most ports. Ports with high node significance are mainly located in the Asia–Pacific region, with Singapore Port being the port with the highest node significance in L-space and Shanghai Port being the port with the highest node significance in P-space. (2) In L-space, the structures with significant improvements in edge connectivity in the shipping network have at least one port node that exhibits both low degree centrality and low betweenness centrality; these are primarily found on East African routes. (3) In P-space, the structures with significant improvements in edge connectivity in the shipping network are more complex but are notably linked to the ports of Assaluyeh and Bandar Abbas in Iran. The proposed node evaluation and edge addition strategy effectively analyze port significance and edge connectivity, providing decision-making support for optimizing port layouts, supporting container route planning, and enhancing the overall performance of the shipping network. Full article

The Bohai Rim region constitutes the third prominent “growth pole” in China’s economic landscape, wherein the Bohai Rim multi-port system, encompassing Tianjin Port, Dalian Port, and Qingdao Port, engages in intense competition to establish itself as the foremost shipping hub in northern China. This study compares the ternary diagram method and employs the comprehensive concentration index (CCI), Lerner index (LI), and spatial shift-share analysis (SSSA) methods to delve into the intricacies of concentration, inequality, and evolving competitive dynamics within the Bohai Rim multi-port system over the four decades spanning from 1981 to 2023. The aim is to analyze the evolutionary trajectory and underlying dynamic mechanisms of this multipartite port system. The analysis delineates the development trajectory of the system into three stages: the dominant stage of Tianjin Port from 1981 to 1990, the efficiency competition stage from 1991 to 1996, and the ascendancy of Qingdao Port from 1997 to 2023. The results indicate that: (i) the Bohai Rim multi-port system exhibits a relatively low level of concentration, ensuring balanced growth within a non-monopolistic competitive environment; (ii) the internal competitiveness of the Bohai Rim multi-port system has gradually shifted from Tianjin Port to Qingdao Port, with Dalian Port experiencing steady development in its container transport capabilities. (iii) Dalian Port has witnessed a decline in container throughput since 2015, indicating a weakening competitive posture. These revelations suggest that Qingdao Port is a viable candidate for development into the northern China shipping center, leveraging its increasing competitiveness and strategic location. The method applied in this study may also prove beneficial for similar multi-port systems elsewhere. Full article

In recent years, despite a decline in international trade and disruptions in the supply chain caused by COVID-19, the main container terminals in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have increased their container volumes. This growth has necessitated significant adaptations by seaports and their authorities to meet new demands. Consequently, there has been a focused analysis on the performance, efficiency, and competitiveness, particularly their most relevant logistical aspects. In this paper, a multi-objective hybrid approach was employed. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique was combined with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank LAC container terminals and identify operational criteria affecting efficiency. The analysis considered all input variables (berth/quay length, quay draught, yard area, number of quay cranes (portainer), number of yard cranes (trastainer), reachstacker, multicranes, daily montainer movement capacity, number of station reefer container type, number of terminals, and distance to the Panama Canal) and output variable (port performance expressed in TEUs from 2014 to 2023). The results revealed noteworthy findings for several terminals, particularly Colón, Santos, or Cartagena, which stands out as the main container port in LAC not only in annual TEUs throughput, but also in resource utilization. Full article