Efficient port terminal operations

Port terminal operations are crucial for the competitiveness for maritime transport. However what are the characteristics of efficient port terminal handling? The increased transport demand internationally is one driver in the development towards e.g. lar ger vessels and bigger lot-sizes. Larger vessels will require larger ports and lead to greater risk of bottlenecks in the operations. Terminals are often regarded as the bottlenecks in the transport chain. Smart cargo handling technology that avoids car go damages and increase an efficient operation that enables fast cargo-flow through the terminal will improve the competitive position of the intermodal solution and increase its attractiveness towards cargo-owners. In this project the aim is to combine MARINTEK?s knowledge and experience from European ports with the knowledge and experience from North American ports at the Centre for Transport Studies and the Centre for Operations Excellence. Our common goal is to identify trends in the best practice i n ports, logistics development trends, and how these trends affect the regional and local port developments and efficient port terminal operations. Marintek has previously done comparative analyses of selected goods flow, their distribution channels, an d technical logistics solution. Experience from these analyses can be relevant to include in this project. For instance both Canada and Norway have a significant forest industry. What are the differences and similarities between the supply chains of fores t products in the two countries? The following areas will be covered: 1.Large scale versus small scale solutions 2.Competition between transport chains involving different transport modes 3.Competition between cargo handling technology (particularly co ntainer versus ro-ro) 4.Port terminal operations