International benchmarking of container stevedoring
International benchmarking of container stevedoringCommission research paper
This paper was released on 11 July 2003. This study updates aspects of the Commission’s 1998 study, international benchmarking of the Australian waterfront, which was based on data collected throughout 1997. The present study draws on data collected mainly during the 2002 calendar year for the same selection of ports.
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The productivity at Australian container terminals, as measured by Net Crane Rates, has improved significantly in absolute terms since 1997.
For the sample of ship calls and terminals studied by the Commission, productivity improved also in relative terms, with the productivity improvement at Australian terminals generally greater than at overseas terminals between 1997 and 2002.
As a consequence, there was an appreciable reduction in the overall productivity gap between Australian terminals and those at the overseas ports included in the study
- this has been achieved despite inherent disadvantages related to generally smaller trade volumes and throughput at Australian terminals.
In 1997, container handling charges at Australian terminals were higher than those at most of the overseas terminals included in the study. Although still true, by 2002, the gap had been reduced, except for Nagoya and those sampled in the US.
Notwithstanding the productivity improvements since 1997, there may be scope for further gains in the relative performance of Australian terminals. For example, Tauranga terminal in New Zealand has been able to deliver higher productivity and lower charges than its Australian counterparts, with similar or lower throughput.