DO TERMINAL OPERATORS KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAYING FOR THEIR LIGHTING?
While operational factors obviously dictate the distribution of lighting within a terminal, do operators have a clear idea of exactly how much their bills come to?
Frans Jol, managing director of Salerno Container Terminal (SCT) in Italy, insists he is well aware of how much it costs to light SCT. "We had to change the lighting at the port recently to bring it in line with ISPS Code requirements. Costing usage is easy to calculate and kept entirely separate from other outgoings. Fortunately, the upgrading work required falls within the remit of the port authority; SCT does not have to pay!"
Dennis Hepworth says that Jol's grasp of his lighting costs is typical of big ports, where electricity consumption is keenly monitored as part of a terminal operation's overall cost base. However, as he explained to PS, this is not always the key point, emphasising that whenever he is invited to visit a terminal installation, he is often immediately struck by how over- or under-lit it can be. In other words, there are a lot of terminals out there spending too much on their lighting, while others might be able to improve their operational efficiency by spending a bit more.
