ISSUES IN PORTS AND TERMINAL OPERATIONS
There are several issues in ports and terminal operations some of them include
1. Traffic issue
Due to the increase in demand of goods in different countries the transportation of goods into and outside the country has increased tremendously. Different types of goods are needed at different times with some e.g. raw materials being of higher demand. The vessels used to ferry in and out these goods have therefore increased in number and as a result are in excess. This means that the transportation of raw materials is in high volume in ports.
2. Congestion issue
As a result of higher volumes in traffic i.e. as a result of increase in the transportation vessels e.g. boats and ships, there has been an increase in the volumes of good in ports. Some goods especially those in low demand or those which are not urgently needed are moved out of the ports in slower rates than those in higher demand. This has led to the congestion in the ports.
3. Capacity limits issue
The ports are managed in such a way that they have specific amount of goods they can hold at a time and vessels or traffic they can carry. When the goods and the vessels used for transportation exceed these limits then it becomes a bigger challenge in the management of the ports.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION TO PORTS AND TERMINAL OPERATIONS
There are effects of heavy traffic and congestion in ports. When traffic is heavy and there are many goods in ports, the quay cranes perform the duties for which they are needed, the reduction in goods means the quay cranes are under-utilized.
RESOLVING THE ISSUES OF TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION IN PORTS AND TERMINAL OPERATIONS
To resolve these issues there should be a strategy to balance the high and the low workload protocol.