Offshore-onshore port systems: A framework for the cost evaluation of container port systems

The size of container ships is constantly growing over recent decades due to a continuous search for economies of scale by shipping lines. The growth of the container ships has necessitated ports to adapt, e.g. by increasing the water depth requirements. Many of the conventional onshore ports cannot receive larger ships without dredging...

Sustainability assessment of quay wall development in the Port of Rotterdam

The current social climate in which sustainable awareness is prioritized, is affecting the port sector. In new-to-develop ports and in the expansion and maintenance of existing ports, implementing sustainability is  encouraged.However, applying sustainability is not self-evident. In order to achieve sustainability targets and to comply with the...

A framework for the impact assessment of low discharges on the performance of inland waterway transport

Inland waterway transport (IWT) is one of the three main modalities for inland transport of dry, liquid and containerized cargo. As IWT performs well on cost-competitiveness, environmental friendliness, and congestion-related issues, authorities strive to shift freight transport from road to water. Inland waterway connections, however, are...

Comparison of Paradigms in Nautical Traffic Models

The increase of ship traffic flow, densities, ship size, and the uncertainty from technological advancement raise issues in traffic safety and efficiency. In order to tackle the issue, currently, a simulation model is widely used by various users as the port authority and bridge team and for research and development team. Since the issues are...

Nature-enhancing design of scour protection for monopiles in the North Sea

A combination of the growth of the offshore wind energy sector and the decline in both species richness and species abundance in the North Sea has inspired the goal to use the scour protection in wind farms as a means to enhance marine life. Present research has focused on general changes which are to be applied to benefit marine life. However,...

Concept level container terminal design: Investigating the consequences of accelerating the concept design phase by modelling the automatable tasks

The design of a container terminal is a process that goes through a number of phases. One of the first is the concept design phase, which is needed to make a first assessment of the project's technical and financial feasibility. This phase is exploratory of nature, because of the early stage in the design cycle and consists of several tasks that...

Hydrogen Import Terminal: Providing insights in the cost of supply chain elements of various hydrogen carriers for the import of hydrogen

The world population is growing and therewith facing a lot of problems, such as a growing energy demand and climate change. These problems force society to make a transition, from a system driven by fossil raw materials to a sustainability-based system. Hydrogen can play a part in shifting from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy flows, as a...

Pumping coral-spawn slicks for large scale reef rehabilitation

Coral reefs are degrading across the entire Great Barrier Reef. Rehabilitation of the Great Barrier Reef is crucial for Australia, both socially and economically because it provides $6 billion in revenue and 63,000 jobs. The Queensland state government issued a challenge within the "Small Business Innovation Research" program to quickly restore...

Assessing emission performance of dredging projects

An ongoing trend of increased environmental awareness and a corresponding willingness to combat climate change influences the dredging industry. Policy developments that encourage contractors to work more sustainable and shifting client demands indicate that the amount of emitted CO2 is becoming an increasingly significant incentive for tender...

Sediment traps: for reducing maintenance dredging costs in the port of Rotterdam

Regular maintainance dredging is a large expense to the Port of Rotterdam, therefore the installation of sediment traps is considered. By increasing the bathymetry locally, an increase of local accumulation is expected and a decrease deeper in the harbour basin. This thesis describes the functioning of sediment traps in a stratified tidally...

Advanced modelling of wave penetration in ports

A main challenge port engineers had to tackle in recent years is wave penetration inside a harbour, as it determines vessels’ safe sailing and mooring, possibly causes unwanted vessel movements, and unequivocally regulates the execution of port operations. A physical scale model can describe wave penetration in a complete way. However, the...

Measures for the reduction of CO2 emissions, by the inland shipping fleet, on the Rotterdam-Antwerp corridor

The main aim of this research was to establish which measures are significant in reducing the CO2 emission levels on the waterways between Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Terminal Design Optimization: Adaptive agribulk terminal planning in light of an uncertain future

This study analyzes the financial impact of design guidelines used in the development of agribulk terminals and sets out to quantify the effect of uncertain throughput projections on a terminal’s business case. This was done through the use of a purposely-built computer model that translates traffic projections into a terminal design in an...

Marinas in Argentina: A feasability study for a network of marinas in the Buenos Aires Province coast

According to themselves, Argentinians are living with their backs towards the sea. In order to turn this around, a feasability study has been done to find out how a network of marinas along the coast of the province would look like, based on a MCDA including all urban areas along the coast and a fleet analysis. A final network has been proposed...

Sustainability assessment of Mediterranean container terminals: Piraeus and Livorno case studies: Recommendations for the extension of the Port of the Future Serious Game

The largest part of the European ports are engaged into addressing proactively environmental and societal issues in order to achieve an always more sustainable development. However, there are several sources that indicate that gaps and barriers exist which impede the sustainable development of many Mediterranean ports. In order to deal with the...

Applying the ‘Building with Nature’ philosophy for sustainable port development: Opportunity study for the Port-Industrial Complex Kuala Tanjung, Indonesia

The aim of the Building with Nature (BwN) design philosophy is to improve on a traditional approach for infrastructural projects by utilising natural processes to create benefits for society and nature. In a fast-changing world where climate action is becoming increasingly important, there is need for an innovative approach in large...

Climate Change Impact Assessment on Ports: Overview and Gap Analysis

In spite of the major and broad consequences of adverse climate change impacts on ports in general, relatively little and relevant detailed research is made available within public domain. Several studies have addressed climate impacts on transportation infrastructure however very few focus on ports and supply chain. Ports are considered...

Integrating engineering knowledge in logistical optimisation: development of a concept evaluation tool

A strategy for completing a dredging project is called a working method. The goal of a tender study is to find an optimal working method for a specific project. To find the optimal working method, the full range of possible solutions should be investigated. However, the available resources during a tender study are often limited and trends in...