Developing Higher Berth Productivity: Comparison of Eastern Adriatic Container Terminals

Abstract

This paper analyses changes of berth infrastructure and suprastructure by global container terminals (CTs) and by four eastern Adriatic ports in the last decade. The emphasis is on understanding whether CTs at Koper, Trieste, Rijeka and Bar achieved higher berth utilisation and productivity per ship-to-shore (STS) crane and if so, how and whether their development is in line with the global trend in CT berth productivity. On this basis a comparison model of twenty selected global CTs is used for productivity comparison as a first step in the process of analysing subsystem productivity. The study shows that four eastern Adriatic ports made different decisions, but with the same goals in reaction to the increased flow of containers via the Adriatic Sea transport route. Their main goal was to increase berth productivity by controlling the eventual subsystem overcapacity. According to observations, the Port of Koper is running at the subsystem’s upper level, while CTs in Trieste, Rijeka and Bar operate with certain degree of berth infrastructural, and suprastructural overcapacity.

Route Selection Decision-Making in an Intermodal Transport Network Using Game Theory

“…The number of STS cranes is in line with the average, but their productivity is about 20% lower. On this basis, the terminal has infrastructural and superstructural overcapacity, but a good basis for the throughput increase in the coming years should be the utilization of this terminal as the gateway for the Central European markets [6].…”

“…Conflicts, in this case, arise when a large number of transport network users create congestion using the same part of the transport network, which has the lowest transport costs for carriers. Coordinated use of the network can relieve congestions and increase overall flow by transferring from road to the railway, which results in a shorter total retention time for all network users or a reduction in total costs [6].…”

Eliminating Barriers for Sustainable Transport Systems on Maritime Silk Road and Baltic–Adriatic Corridor under BRI

“…The berth subsystem at container terminals does not provide the infrastructural elements and operating conditions for work on ULCV (Ultra Large Container Vessels). The same is true for the container storage and dispatch subsystems, as with a rapid increase in container throughput, the entire port or container terminal system would become congested [36]. By infrastructural and suprastructural improvements, ports must follow sustainable development, where Ignaccolo et al [37] propose the use of a sustainability matrix for efficient port development.…”

Impact of Container Vessels Capacity 15.000 TEU and More on Existing Container Terminals

“…The port of Koper has the highest productivity by container crane on the eastern Adriatic coast. Productivity has almost doubled in the last ten years [21]. Container handling is performed with bridge cranes, forklifts and RMG cranes.…”