Continuous and increased demand for energy, development and construction translates into huge demand for bulk commodities of raw materials, food stuff, fertilizers and finished products. This trend has created an unprecedented demand for shipping transport and, consequently, for port services and related infrastructure at local, regional and global level.
In a bid to reduce the mile/tonne cost, bigger vessels are being built. As a result, ports that failed to foresee the trend or which cannot adapt their installations are now facing serious limitations in the number of vessels they can accommodate at any one time, and in their capacity to accept and efficiently serve oversized vessels. This results in reduced productivity and loss of income for the exporting country, enterprise and the port itself.
Spiralling demand has created a sharp increase of shipping freight in both the bulk and container shipping sectors. In an effort to maximise revenues in the shortest possible time, and catch up with the market, ports often opt to keep their installations in continuous use…
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