World Ports Tracker

The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) is inviting ports to become part of its World Ports Tracker community by responding to a short eight question survey.

The first in-depth report will then be written by IAPH’s experts Professors Theo Notteboom and Thanos Pallis and sent to IAPH member participants and survey respondees in early July.

The survey has grown out of work done during the pandemic to aid ports with planning. “As we processed the data and published it within a maximum of ten days of receiving it, we could explain exactly what was happening at ports at the time, by region and by activity,” said Professor Thanos Pallis.

“We also kept the questions short and to the minimum, a successful formula, which we will keep with this new tracker, with very similar content,” he added.

The survey comprises eight repeated questions with three additional questions to be added once per year. The first eight will focus on number of cargo vessel calls expected, hinterland transport conditions, capacity use of warehouses and distribution facilities, cargo throughput expectations, cruise and passenger vessel call size and frequency and staff availability.

The three yearly questions put to ports will focus on the situation of planned investments, potential capacity extensions or terminal upgrades, and any major changes expected in land use.

 The IAPH World Ports Tracker surveys will be issued quarterly with the first open now and ending on 17 June.