Port-City Shared Areas to Improve Freight Transport Sustainability

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to propose a methodological framework to evaluate the reuse of areas located close to the port as “retro-port”, in order to reduce the externalities caused by Ro-Ro freight terminal operation and the burden of freight deliveries in urban areas. In this regard, an analysis of the main variables involved in this process is presented, with reference to terminal traffic, terminal capacity, accessibility to the port and freight handling infrastructures. The results of this research constitute the base to support and improve urban logistics activities, rethinking the use of elements and areas that characterize the port and its surroundings. These findings pave the way for further research related to the design and dimensioning of retro-port and the realistic implementation of an urban consolidation centre.

The Importance of Environmental Factors in the Planning of Container Terminals: The Case Study of the Port of Augusta

“…The Port of Augusta is currently more focused on its industrial activity (being the third port in Italy for liquid bulk), and it is the one with the highest city-port distance [24], which makes it a good candidate to become a major trading port, due to the lower impact that operation at terminal would have on the closest urban community. The upgrade of an effective terminal container in a port that for a long time has been in a deadlock situation should be planned to guarantee freight handling optimization, but must also pass through more sustainable scenarios in line with European Union policies [25,26]. The current situation of the Easter Sicily Port System sees the port of Catania mainly focused on roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) traffic, which is currently its main business.…”