Legal structure and management of terminals: Focus on commercial issues and privatization

Most ports globally remain under public control, yet globalization and international logistic chains exercise pressure towards the dilution of the public control. This text presents briefly the institutional framework of ports and focuses on the operational and financial triggers to dilute public control. Then the key issues related to the market and the society are analyzed. This chapter concludes with a section on the bid process and the primal points discussed, negotiated and agreed in a concession procedure. --Port Management,Terminal Management,Privatization

Adjusting basic maritime training in an e-learning environment

Both EQUADIL and TRIAINA teams express their gratitude to Mr. Anastasios Varvaroussis of the European Commission. In addition both teams shall thank all employees, trainers, instructors and employers involved in the development of these CBT products.This paper aims to disseminate the results and the findings of two projects, partially funded by the European Commission, one on computer based training and another on e-learning. Both projects have been focused on training employees of the wider marine and maritime community. Different approaches have been used for attacking specific needs and several methodologies have been employed. Both projects are described and presented to the academic community as well as to professionals. Their results and findings are thoroughly discussed. The importance of distance working in modern societies and its intertwined role in relation with the development e-learning are also discussed from the point of view of the wider maritime industry.peer-reviewe

Approaching the relative productivity of infrastructure in Mediterranean container terminals with the use of DEA

The authors would like to thank Professor Shuo Ma of the World Maritime University (WMU) for his comments and support, as well as the staff of the WMU library for their effort and assistance during the data collection stage. All statistical data come from various sources such as Containerisation, Fairplay and the publications of ISL.The comparison of ports in terms of economic performance, infrastructure, marketing is an integral part of the strategic planning for policy makers, as well as for port managers and investors. In the functions of productivity and efficiency, some of the terms are defined in a deterministic way, while others, usually of a qualitative nature are estimated only subjectively. In addition, every port serves a different region or market or industry and enjoys different hinterland connections, status of ownership and management. Consequently the comparison of ports is a difficult and risky process with the use of only one model, if not impossible.peer-reviewe

Sustainability and strategic directions in maritime education and training provision: An exploration of employers’ perceptions

The paper explores the importance of sustainability from the perspective of prospective employers of future and existing Maritime Education and Training (MET) graduates. More specifically, it investigates employers’ views on the incorporation of sustainability into MET provision. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey that addresses the concept of sustainability – among other emerging trends - from the angle of maritime education and training was distributed to European shipowning companies in the context of related EU funded research (SkillSea). A total of 23 responses were received but, albeit the relatively small sample, the findings suggest clearly that there is a significant gap between the skills presently acquired through MET. They also reveal the need for METs to develop a strategy aiming at a more comprehensive inclusion of the mega-trend of sustainability as a subject into the curricula of the various types of MET institutions. This paper contributes to the literature by addressing the mismatch between current and future needs and related issues arising for maritime education and training.Peer Reviewe

The Short-Term Cost of Greening the Global Fleet

Decarbonizing maritime transport is among the top priorities of regulators and continuously attracts significant research attention. However, the cost of renewing and greening the fleet has not been explored in detail. To address this gap, the paper provided a bottom-to-top estimation of the financial need associated with decarbonizing the global shipping fleet for the next 5 years, i.e., until 2026. By developing a model focusing on the main asset classes, the paper approximated the expenditure implied in the short-term fleet renewal (newbuilding and vessel demolition) as well as the expenditure linked to retrofitting the existing fleet. The results indicated an aggregate financial need of USD 317 billion until 2026. Thereof, USD 235 billion are associated with building new ships, while USD 114 billion are allocated to retrofitting. Furthermore, proceeds of USD 33 billion can be generated via demolition sales of old tonnage, reducing the total financial burden. The results entail important policy implications, as they document the monetary impact on investors, lenders, and shipping companies regarding distinct segments of the fleet. Considering the declining overall supply of capital towards shipping, the given results provide a transparent account of the absolute financial implications of decarbonization policies

The Cost of SOx Limits to Marine Operators; Results from Exploring Marine Fuel Prices

Marine operators are confronted with the new air emissions regulations that determine the limits of sulfur content in marine fuels. The low-sulfur (LS) marine fuels have a higher price, and their fluctuation is almost similar to the fluctuation of high-sulfur (HS) fuels. The price difference between HS and LS might also determine the decision of operators for alternative technical means, such as scrubbers, in order to comply with the new limits. This paper aims to provide a thorough statistical analysis of the currently available LS and HS marine fuels time series, as well as to present the analysis of the differential of the HS and LS fuel prices. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research

Assessing the impact of the maritime silk road

The plans for the Maritime Silk Road affect the existing liner services. The purpose of this paper is to quantify using the terms of network theory the impact of these plans and to project the effects on the fleet, utilization, port throughput, and carbon footprint. The analysis is based on publicly available information and reasonable fleet deployment assumptions. It also considers current and alternative routing schedules from Shanghai to Europe. The impact of existing and expected emission control areas (ECAs) along the port chains is also considered