More ports sign up to data project

This follows 13 new ports signing on in November 2016, the project aim to establish better data analysis which will lead to better performance in the industry.

“For ports to work better, managers need to benchmark their performance on a wide range of indicators. But there’s a lack of reliable data for port managers to use,” the project’s manager, Mark Assaf.

He added: “Port managers want to know that they can trust the data, and that they’re comparing apples to apple.”

The project began in 2013 and now covers 23 indicators on financial stability, labour productivity and operational efficiency.

It looks at indicators ranging from revenue generated per employee, to average ship waiting times, to tonnage handled per hectare of land.

“The type of detailed performance analysis the scorecard allows is extremely helpful for honing in on the weaker links in our operations, and coming up with better strategies,” said Hector Miole, assistant general manager for operations at the Philippine Ports Authority.

He concluded: “As an island nation, we manage hundreds of ports, and not all provide the same data, so the project is helping us harmonize information too.”