Maritime Transport Sector: Maritime Transport Sector Infrastructure Imperatives June 2006, CSME Roland Malins-Smith


Dominant influence on infrastructure has been containerization: Dominant influence on infrastructure has been containerization Origins of containerization – trucker Malcolm McLean, 1956 Precipitated globalization by reducing the cost of maritime transport Simple, effective way of moving goods which protects them, speeds up handling, permits inter-modal exchange, permits economies of scale with ships, speeds up delivery time, reduces inventories and costs The end game – dramatically increase port productivity


Impact of containerization: Impact of containerization Introduced a new class of vessels – the container ship Introduced new handling methods & organization at ports Dictates changes in port layout Requires investment in specialized port equipment Increases labor productivity, leads to reduction in work force Today we take containerization for granted, but it has been quite a change for the Caribbean, and the adjustment of our port infrastructure is an ongoing exercise


Caribbean network of mainline and feeder services developing: Caribbean network of mainline and feeder services developing Larger ships being used from Far East, Europe Smaller ships moving containers from: Florida Kingston Jamaica Manzanillo Panama Cartagena Colombia Freeport Bahamas Caucedo Dominican Republic And secondary transshipment points such as San Juan, St Croix, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Vieux Fort


Transshipment is major business for ports such as Kingston: Transshipment is major business for ports such as Kingston Will move over 2.2 million teus in 2006 Now investing US$250 million to grow to 3.2 million within 4 years Expects to have 2,100 ship calls this year Building another 475 meters of berth and additional 161 acres of container terminal space


For Transshipment ports, success requires high productivity and low unit costs, achieved with:: For Transshipment ports, success requires high productivity and low unit costs, achieved with: Measured investment in berths and terminal storage areas Container gantry cranes, RTGs, straddle carriers, container stackers, yard trucks and chassis Effective and experienced management Industry specific software Motivated work force, stable labor environment. Objective: Rates of 25-35 moves per gang hour


State of port infrastructure in CSME a mixed bag – difficult to generalize: State of port infrastructure in CSME a mixed bag – difficult to generalize Some ports such as Kingston have spent considerable sums, making rapid progress Most Caribbean ports have modest programs for acquiring / using container handling equipment Some are in urgent need of berth renovation and expansion, dredging and terminal construction – Paramaribo and Georgetown Given state of infrastructure, fair to say that port productivity can be improved with further investment and with pro-active management of existing facilities


From operator’s standpoint, infrastructure issues:: From operator’s standpoint, infrastructure issues: Berthing competition between cruise and container ships Where volume warrants, investment in cranes can intensify use of existing facilities Insufficiency of “moving” equipment between ship and storage area Preventive maintenance programs preserve equipment Communications equipment sometimes lacking Organization of container storage areas and pre-staging to increase productivity Use of available software Rationalization of working hours, gang size, charges Container turn time, demurrage, storage regimes Training to avoid poor handling methods, improve safety Container truck scales increasingly useful Effective and experienced management the key element


Ships and services – no shortage of opportunities for CSME: Ships and services – no shortage of opportunities for CSME As a by-product of containerization, comprehensive regional network of services exists Most if not all ports linked with day of the week sailings Over 15 container shipping lines offer regular services 6 actively canvass intra-regional business Tropical Shipping – www.Tropical.com Bernuth Marine – www.Bernuth.com Seaboard Marine – www.Seaboardmarine.com Crowley Liner Services – www.Crowley.com CMA/CGM – www.cma.cgm.com Seafreight Line – www.seafreightagencies.com Current schedules can be found on the websites. CSME exporters who generate container size shipments are familiar with these services


Some issues remain: Some issues remain Handling cost, a function of productivity, remain relatively high, for reasons already given Minimum costs and charges associated with container activity make LCL shipments very expensive For primary products, refrigerated services usually come in 40’ container sizes Knowledge of existing services and opportunities could be improved


Thank you !: Thank you !