DON’T FORGET THE LITTLE GUYS
With a lot of port sector engagement with the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ (digitalisation) and advanced strategies to achieve zero emissions being deployed, it is quite easy to forget that there are those ports who have not yet got their heads round the basics oneither front, writes Mike Mundy.
The typical profile of such a port is smaller rather than larger and as a rule not located on a major maritime trade lane – more off the beaten track. Further, the host country may well be a small island state or a smaller nation generally, one which is not so well resourced.
An indication of this is conveyed in the recent IAPH survey which looked at 111 ports and their state of readiness as regards adopting the IMO FAL requirements on electronic data interchange by 2024-2025. They have to be implemented by the 174 IMO member states by this time but according to IAPH a third of the ports reviewed have yet to commence work on this and basically have no immediate plans.
Another example is getting to grips with achieving environmentally-friendly operations. Experience shows that there are a good number of smaller ports who really don’t know what initial steps to take in this respect and possibly think that this is something beyond their reach when operating with a limited budget.
These two areas of challenge are seen as formidable by many – although it has to be acknowledged not all – smaller ports and the terminal operations they house. How to get started on a low budget and what road map to follow are fundamental questions.
The overall situation is rather reminiscent of when landlord port authorities and port concessions rose to prominence – the smaller to medium size players had a lot of interest but not a lot of understanding of putting these ideas into practice.
One event that played a major part in promoting a greater understanding was the publication by the World Bank of its Port Reform Tool Kit aimed at developing country ports. The eight module Tool Kit provided the framework needed to move forward in a meaningful way.
This poses the thought that the challenges of harnessing the powers of digitalisation and putting in place positive environmental measures may well benefit from a similar approach – essentially step-by-step guides of how to achieve this.
Equally, it could be a web site where knowledge and experience can be conveyed and via which the ‘uninitiated’ can ask for advice. Good idea? Who will step up and turn theory into practice?