Onshore and Offshore Coordination of Logistics Services at Seaports

Abstract

As global trade increases, sizes of vessels and cargo throughputs have also experienced a sudden rise thereby putting excess pressure on ship berths and ports. This is shifting most ports to much smarter technological solutions with the aim of optimizing operations, increasing efficiency and reducing logistics cost without the need for huge infrastructural and equipment investments. Developing the right strategy, lack of data security and inadequate cost-study analysis of the required smart port technology to be adopted remains the major challenge for Small and Medium sized Ports in adopting smart technologies in their operations. Almost all prior smart port researches focuses on larger ports with no attention to small and medium sized ports despite their irreplaceable role in global trade and national development. In this report, a smart port framework focusing on technology, safety and security, sustainable development, and port operations is developed for SMPs, with an integrated implementation plan and a cost benefit analysis. This work will serve as a guide for SMPs in choosing and implementing the right smart initiatives and also lays the foundation for further research in technological innovations for SMPs.