📆 Monday, December 2, 2024
🕐 11:00 am CET
📍 ETSECCPB, Sala Tesines C1-002 (C/Jordi Girona 1-3, mòdul C1, Campus Nord, Barcelona)
Trends in logistics and more broadly across technology and energy are resulting in changes on the traditional business models and roles of ports. Since the port ecosystem is going to be considerably different in the following two decades, decision-makers need to be aware about these trends to prioritize investments and build new and dynamic strategic masterplans. This thesis seeks to analyze some current trends impacting on ports and analyze the changes on their roles to define long-term strategy. The results of this thesis will contribute to the state of the art of Ports of the Future by identifying the main trends impacting on ports in the long term (2040). The impacts are identified by means of the Delphi method process within the Port Community of Barcelona. The research allowed to identify which are the key drivers that are going to transform ports: green measures to decarbonize maritime transport and supply chains; circular economy hubs to produce or customize on site and on demand products in port areas; new physical and digital infrastructures for automated and connected vehicles and port terminals; and finally, a fully digitalization to offer new services (track and trace, call optimization, etc.) as well as an optimized supply chain oriented to offer resiliency for the hinterland clients of the ports. These trends will change the long-term port business ecosystem. The research uses Business Canvas Model methodology to identify the future port management dynamics, role and strategy. The results outline conceptual actions to be considered and introduced in port planning to ensure its sustainable growth in harmony with their nearby societies. The conclusions taken based on the case study of the Port of Barcelona are extended to other European ports. The thesis studies the evolution of the ship size, which is a relevant factor in order to plan the investments needed in port infrastructure. The analysis is focused on the container segment which is one of the most relevant in maritime trade. Since the container ship was born, we have seen an impressive increase in order to get advantage of the economies of scale. In the last two decades, the capacity of vessels has been trebled. Despite the exponential growth experienced in this sector, individuals question if it is possible to reach a peak capacity, as has occurred with bulk cargo vessels and, recently, aircraft. This thesis aims to predict the possible size and dimensions of a new generation of mega container ships. Based on economy of scale, port infrastructure, demand and environmental trends and naval design criteria the limit ship size has been estimated. The results suggest that it is still possible additional slight increases of the ship size. This thesis allows Port Authorities to understand the needs of shipping container industry to plan the expansion and investment necessary in their ports.In terms of social sustainability, the research explores how is going to impact the identified trends in the human capital of ports, focusing on the introduction of new technologies. Among others, ICT, cloud technology, 5G, automation, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, block chain and Big Data Analytics are going to conduct several major changes in the port job market. The thesis analyses the impacts of these changes on the capacities and training of port personnel based on questionnaires and interviews to relevant ports of different continents. Finally, in terms of environmental sustainability, the thesis explores measures for decarbonization of ports, due to the fact that it is expected to be a key strategic factor. In this dimension, the thesis focusses on one of the measures with higher impact on reduction of GHG emissions and air pollution, which is the On Shore Power supply. presenting the current state of the art of OPS in ports and the main challenges and barriers in the future. The analysis is linked with the Energy Transition strategy of ports.
Committee
Mr. Javier Garrido is a Civil, Canal and Port Engineer from the Technical University of Catalonia (BarcelonaTech). He has a double degree with the École des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris, a higher school specialized in transport and in the socioeconomic evaluation of transport infrastructure. He has collaborated in the execution of the Transport Infrastructure Assessment System (SAIT) of the Government of Catalonia.
Currently, he is a researcher at CENIT, Innovation Unit in Transport at CIMNE, and he is doing a PhD in collaboration with the Port of Barcelona on the future of ports: Port Vision 2040. He collaborates with the Department of Strategy and Innovation to define the strategic lines of the Port of Barcelona for 2040 with the aim of guaranteeing the social, economic and environmental sustainability of port actions.