Economic Changes Facing Ports and Factors Affecting Port Competitiveness

摘要

This is a study conducted to assess characteristics of modern US ports and their211u001eabilities to adapt and accommodate constantly increasing changes and functions. 211u001eAmong the challenges ports face are larger vessels and berths, deeper port 211u001edrafts, new and more expensive technologically advanced cranes and equipment, and 211u001ethe ability to move massive amounts of containers in or out of ports in a short 211u001espan of time. In addition, ports face enviroinmental, land and funding issues. On 211u001eoccasion, federal or state agencies create issues resulting in the ports not 211u001ebeing as efficient as they could or should. This paper attempts to address those 211u001eissues and make some recommendations. Five major US ports are studied, all of 211u001ewhich are modern, facilitate huge traffic volumes, and are poised to function as 211u001ethe ports of the future. The five ports studied here are the Port of New York and 211u001eNew Jersey, Port of Houston, Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, and the 211u001ePort of Virginia.