Reducing the cost of port and terminal operations

How are we playing our part in helping clients reduce the costs of their port and terminal operations?  We explain how we help our clients to reduce costs by optimising the port operations cycle and their dredging activity.  

Managing a port or terminal’s operability is critical to reducing the unit costs of running a port. Many of the factors involved relate to the marine environment, and a good understanding of these factors can be used to reduce a port’s operating costs. Simulation of the port cycle, including ship arrival/ departure, cargo transfer, onshore storage capacity and logistics along with the influence of metocean conditions can be used to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of the port operation. 

Port operations simulations involve representing individual terminal components, such as vessel arrivals, cargo handling, allocation of resources (pilots, tugs, berths, equipment, labour etc.) within an interconnected system to simulate the performance of the overall port operation while incorporating historical or forecast weather conditions and their influence on the operation. 

These studies provide supporting evidence to operators when; assessing terminal downtime and storage requirements; evaluating planned changes to terminal operating procedures; identifying bottlenecks and constraints on operations; and undertaking economic comparisons of conceptual designs.

Dredging to maintain a port or terminal’s navigation often presents opportunities to reduce costs. When examining dredging practices, we generally look at both the nature of the siltation problem, and the dredging methods employed. Port operators face the dilemma of programing their dredging procurement to maintain the required depth of navigation, but not to the extent that the channel is over-dredged and the dredging problem increased. Channel sedimentation is affected by factors such as geomorphology and tides but also seasonal factors, and can be minimised through careful channel design.

As well as understanding the nature of port sedimentation, it is also important to establish that the most cost-effective dredging methods being employed. We have helped clients to reduce their dredging costs by adopting more efficient dredging practices such as water injection and side casting systems. 

There are also cases where, with careful examination, it may be possible to avoid or reduce investment in new structures or dredging and still permit larger vessel to access a port or terminal. This could be through close examination of vessel arrival and departure navigation, using simulation tools. Alternatively, it may be possible to demonstrate that a layer of fluid mud would not in fact impede safe access to a terminal.

At HR Wallingford we understand the need to minimise the costs of running ports and terminals. We have the tools and expertise to assess how a port's operational costs can be reduced whilst still delivering safe and reliable operational performance.