ABSTRACT
Ports are incredibly complex facilities that thrive on efficiency and well-organised supply chains. By ensuring there is no lag between vessels entering the port, having their cargo loaded or unloaded, refuelled, and inspected, cleared to depart, and finally pushed clear of the berth, ports are central facilitators to global trade and national and regional prosperity. Many ports today utilise the very latest in technology to minimise the time ships spend alongside, therein reducing turn-around times and maximising berth space. To put this into perspective, China has some of the most technologically advanced port facilities anywhere worldwide. In 2019 the Chinese port of Ningbo-Zhoushan handled some 1,120,090 tonnes of containerised cargo; in 2020, this increased 4.7%, to 1,1720,400 tonnes. Shanghai, by comparison, handled 716,770 tonnes in 2019 and 711,040 tonnes in 2020, a drop of 0.8%. 1 Part of the reason why Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai can handle such vast quantities of cargo lies in the automation of cargo loading and discharge systems, specialised truck trailer docking sites, railway wagon identification mechanisms and advanced load-bearing cranes. When added together, these make for an extremely efficient, cost-effective and time-saving operation. Despite these quite amazing feats of technological advancement, port operators can do very little until the ship is safely alongside. This, unfortunately, remains an agonisingly slow operation.
