This document discusses the key features and importance of sea ports. It outlines that ports are historic commercial hubs that require large investments and provide infrastructure to support national economies. The document describes the evolution of ports from basic cargo facilities to modern integrated hubs. It also outlines different types of ports and approaches to port management, noting the goal of efficiently supporting trade and generating economic benefits.

1. Vijay Hiranandani

2. INTRODUCTION
Sea ports are historic, commercial and
infrastructural assets that form the backbone of
national and regional economies.
OUTLINE:
Main features and operations of ports
Importance of ports
Evolution of ports
Types of ports
Port management

3. Grain Terminal, Tilbury docks, UK.
http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/conMediaFile.1821/Three-OCLcontainer-ships-at-Tilbury-during-the-
August-1970-docks-strike.html

4. MAIN FEATURES & OPERATIONS OF PORTS:
Ports reflect national heritage, local commercial
attitudes, practices, and laws that differ widely between
nations.
Ports require long-term, expensive, and specialized
investments and resources that represent a substantial
chunk of national economy.
Ports are large civil engineering undertakings and a
collection of activities entailing huge sunk costs.
Ports provide ship/shore intermodal interface.

5. The advent of intermodalism has caused ports to compete
for cargoes. This has jolted businesses to increase port
efficiency and value-added activities in recent years.
Value-added activities range from
cargo loading and discharging,
industrial services in ports,
combining and separating cargoes,
up-to-date information on inventory and cargo movements,
stuffing/de-stuffing containers,
loading cargo in crates and crates on pallets,
shrink-wrapping, labeling, weighing, repackaging.

6. Civil engineering features:
Sea and land access
Infrastructures for ships berthing & unberthing
Road and rail networks
Industrial area management
Administrative functions:
Control of all modes of vehicles entering and
leaving the port
Environmental control
Dangerous and hazardous cargo control
Safety and security within the port area
Immigration, health, customs, and commercial
documentary control

7. Hong Kong Port Container Terminal
http://my.hktdc.com/photolib/showhk.asp?id=0700036

8. Operational functions:
Facilitating arrival and departure of ships
Providing navigational aids and Vessel Traffic
Separation (VTS) facilities
Pilotage, tugging and mooring activities
Use of berths, sheds, etc
Loading, discharging, storage and distribution of
cargo
Facilitating supply chain logistics and management

9. WHY ARE SEAPORTS IMPORTANT?
Seaports are a haven with facilities for berthing and
anchoring ships and providing equipment for transfer of
goods from ship-shore, shore-ship & ship-ship.
Ports function as
 distribution centers;
industrial zones;
energy supply bases;
mercantile trading centers with banks, brokers, and
traders;
urbanization and city redevelopment centers;
life activity bases in rural ports;
maritime leisure bases in cruise passenger ship
terminals;
private yacht marinas;

10. Genoa, Italy.
http://www.travel-mall.net/dbimg/location6.jpg

11. Ports form a vital aspect of the national transport
infrastructure.
Ports form the main transport link with their
international trading partners and are a focal point for
national and regional motorways and railways.
Ports are a blessing for national prosperity – they
provide a gateway for trade and attract commercial
infrastructure such as banks, shipping agencies, freight
forwarders, stevedores, etc.
Ports create a hustle and bustle of industrial activity.
Ports are places where foreign cultures and ideas
influence a nation.

12. Ports are a focal point with shallow waters where
ships converge thereby making them vulnerable to
maritime accidents.
Ports are places where valuables are concentrated and
where cargo can be damaged or stolen during handling.
Ports are places where repairs and/or planned
maintenance is carried out on ships.
 Ports are places where
costly delays can occur,
ships are surveyed,
most shipping services – agents, brokers, etc are located,
cargoes come from, and
customs and government policies are implemented.

13. Hamburg Port, Germany
http://www.maritimemarket.ru/images/hamburg.jpg

14. EVOLUTION OF PORTS
Ports have evolved over time
Their development phases can be classified as follows:
First Generation Port:
Existed before and until 1960s
Comprised of a basic cargo interface between
land and sea transport
Isolated from transport and trade activities
Resembled an independent kingdom
Isolation between different port activities
Usually a bulk cargo port

15. Second Generation Port:
During 1960s – 1980s
They were developed transport, industrial and
commercial service centres
Offered various types of industrial and
commercial activities
They reflected sophisticated port policies
and development strategies
Provided industrial facilities within the
port area
Well developed network of transport
infrastructure
They integrated different activities and
zonal relationships

16. Third Generation Port:
From 1980 onwards
Arose from global containerization, inter-
modalism, and booming trade requirements
They are hubs of international production and
distribution
Combine traditional, specialized and
integrated activities
Well-planned infrastructure and information
processing facilities
Offer value-added services
User friendly
Offer simplified customs procedures
More environmentally conscious

17. Nagoya Port, Japan
http://www.iaphworldports.org/gallery/img/Nagoya2_jpg.jpg

18. DIFFERENT TYPES OF PORTS
Hub, center or mega port – a major port dealing with
international trade. Example: Rotterdam in The
Netherlands.
Feeder port – to feed and distribute cargo from major
ports. Example: Port Riga in Latvia provides feeder
service to Hamburg in Germany.
Entrepot or transit port – serves as a transit port.
Example: Batumi seaport in Georgia is a transit port for
Kazakh and Azerbaijan.
Domestic port – provides a natural outlet for
surrounding hinterland. Example: Jafarabad port in
India.

19. An aerial view of Rotterdam Port in The Netherlands
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=164137&page=4Rotterdam

20. PORT MANAGEMENT – A BRIEF
Ports last longer than ships and this requires the port
management to avoid any costly blunders.
Ports are classified according to their ownership or
administration. Basic types are:
State owned ports
Autonomous ports
Municipal owned ports
Private owned ports
There is an impetus to increase private ownership of
ports.

21. Ports are governed by various types of boards such as
Representative Board – consisting of persons
representing interests concerned with port operation
Board of Experts – consisting of members with
proven expertise
Two Tier Boards – consisting of one tier to run the
port on day-to-day basis and other tier to plan and
implement major policies

22. Port management aims to:
Operate with overall cost-leadership
Minimize user payment by ensuring quick ship
turnover in port
Minimize through-transport costs
Minimize port costs
Maximize benefits
To port owners
To the town, region or nation
Generate employment

23. Hamburg Port, Germany
http://www.iaphworldports.org/gallery/img/mainporthamburg.jpg

24. CONCLUSION
Ports have historical, commercial and
infrastructural significance.
They form the backbone of national and
regional economies.
Supporting efficient port operations and
management is vital for national prosperity.

25. References
Alderton P.M. (1999). Port Management & Operations.
London: LLP
Grammenos Costas Th. (2002). The Handbook of
Maritime Economics and Business. London: Informa
Professional.