Identifying the Importance of Performance Attributes for Innovations in Port Call Management

Abstract

Port performance is under pressure due to high congestion levels and a need to reduce GHG emissions. The industry is looking for ways to increase efficiency in ports. A promising concept is known as port call optimization where waiting times and turn-around times can be reduced. This research contributes to the body of port call optimization literature by identifying the importance of performance attributes for innovations. Identifying the performance attributes and how stakeholders weight these has never been explored before in literature. The relative importance has been derived using the Bayesian Best-Worst Method. The performance attributes: incidents, near misses, robustness and added value, are most important for evaluating an innovation for port call management. Results on micro level show heterogeneity and homogeneity in preferences for port attributes. Both ports with complex nautical restrictions prefer performance attributes related to safety. The port with centralised management is more commercially driven and there is homogeneity within a port. Furthermore, heterogeneity is seen between stakeholder groups and between port authority (PA). PAs from centralised port value attributes relatively different than a PA with decentralised and licensing activities. Some differences and similarities can be explained by the port contexts. The findings can be used for the design of innovations in port call management. Research could be repeated in other port cases to validate the significance of these results.