Governments typically legislate national Port Priorities and to a greater or lesser extent allow for PPP or BOOT projects. In any event Port planning processes must include a reasonable level of demand analysis and an evaluation of the competitive and shipping landscape. The development of long-term integrated master plans for existing ports or development of new ports are guided by leading practice can also be assisted by UNCTAD guidance on the setting up of ports and port infrastructure. Varenco has undertaken demand assessments for several South Pacific ports.
Typically, this type of evaluation covers using standardized vessel models and tariff extraction – in a desktop module and can be coupled with survey analysis and reporting. Typically, clients must be prepared to provide some historic data sets.
Customer (Shipping) user surveys can also provide a dimension for management to consider.
Purpose built container terminals have had to continuously upscale and dredge to provide for the increased demand by larger deeper container ships. IN South East Asia and Pacific Islands sometimes this is not cost effective as developing a decent multipurpose terminal that can be put to dual use – handling containers like a container berth but equally having physical layout and operating procedures which enable it to service other segments with ease. Varenco can help with specification and design and collaborate with partners to deliver asset deployment and performances improvement on the ground.
Barges have moved a long way from being “Dumb” – Barges today form a critical piece of marine infrastructure from a means of transport from a draft limited site to the deepwater transhipment import/export vessel- to performing the role of a berthing pontoon, a supply base, a movable container storage area that can travel between container terminals or off dock CY further downstream. Innovative approaches to utilise a barge, from the basic to the very complex submersible and DP enabled self-propelled platforms there is a barge for every need.
In many instances and dependent upon haul distance barge size and propulsion can make a very compelling case for a lower cost distribution and temporary storage solution.