cargo services might become an important competitor, but only for small or perishable goods, such as flowers or textiles where the products need to reach the consumer
before the fashion period is over. For several purposes sea transport has no competitor. However, the growing technical evolution of ships requires the construction of
probably fewer and bigger ports, where transhipment to smaller ships may be
carried out.
The increasing ship tonnage entails that terminal size and ancillary equipment is
now pertinent to sea traffic. Railways do not present a similar issue due to their
technical limits restricting expansion in this direction, but as for sea transport,
terminals with the proper equipment and the adequate personnel are required for
efficient operation. Hence, the tendency, to focus on fewer terminals with more
sophisticated equipment.
1.2.11.3 Ports – Utility and Capacity
Ports are useful to the country because they:
• provide a shelter to ships,
• allow ships to replenish resources (water, food, fuel, repair, safety, etc) for further
navigation,
• enable cargo transfer between port and hinterland transport systems,
• provide quick, efficient, cost-effective cargo transfer and aggregation facilities.
Aggregation of individual berth capacity gives a port’s capacity. The individual
berth capacity is influenced by the type of commodity it handles and is determined
by
(1) the berth’s size,
(2) the length,
(3) the size of vessel it can handle.
The berth capacity is measured by the deadweight tonnage of the vessel that can
be serviced by the berth. Berth occupancy is used as a yardstick for berth use
efficiency. The various parameters affecting a break-bulk berth’s efficiency include
(1) the berth’s cargo-handling capacity,
(2) the vessel’s cargo-handling capacity,
(3) the cargo’s nature,
(4) how the cargo is stored ashore,
(5) how the cargo is transferred from the berth or storage facilities (by truck, train,
etc.).
Thus a country which wants to increase potential volume of foreign trade should
think about increasing and upgrading its port capacity.
A port’s productivity also largely relies on the productivity of the entire logistics
chain of which the port forms part. Any interruption in the smooth functioning of any
of these links (poor road/railway linkages, unsympathetic attitude of customs
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1 Introduction to Infrastructure
before the fashion period is over. For several purposes sea transport has no competitor. However, the growing technical evolution of ships requires the construction of
probably fewer and bigger ports, where transhipment to smaller ships may be
carried out.
The increasing ship tonnage entails that terminal size and ancillary equipment is
now pertinent to sea traffic. Railways do not present a similar issue due to their
technical limits restricting expansion in this direction, but as for sea transport,
terminals with the proper equipment and the adequate personnel are required for
efficient operation. Hence, the tendency, to focus on fewer terminals with more
sophisticated equipment.
1.2.11.3 Ports – Utility and Capacity
Ports are useful to the country because they:
• provide a shelter to ships,
• allow ships to replenish resources (water, food, fuel, repair, safety, etc) for further
navigation,
• enable cargo transfer between port and hinterland transport systems,
• provide quick, efficient, cost-effective cargo transfer and aggregation facilities.
Aggregation of individual berth capacity gives a port’s capacity. The individual
berth capacity is influenced by the type of commodity it handles and is determined
by
(1) the berth’s size,
(2) the length,
(3) the size of vessel it can handle.
The berth capacity is measured by the deadweight tonnage of the vessel that can
be serviced by the berth. Berth occupancy is used as a yardstick for berth use
efficiency. The various parameters affecting a break-bulk berth’s efficiency include
(1) the berth’s cargo-handling capacity,
(2) the vessel’s cargo-handling capacity,
(3) the cargo’s nature,
(4) how the cargo is stored ashore,
(5) how the cargo is transferred from the berth or storage facilities (by truck, train,
etc.).
Thus a country which wants to increase potential volume of foreign trade should
think about increasing and upgrading its port capacity.
A port’s productivity also largely relies on the productivity of the entire logistics
chain of which the port forms part. Any interruption in the smooth functioning of any
of these links (poor road/railway linkages, unsympathetic attitude of customs
22
1 Introduction to Infrastructure