The container shipping industry can no longer operate as a collection of independent pieces, and ports must do more to integrate with their surrounding communities. Over the past two years, we have all come to understand that the just-in-time system, which only functions well if schedules are maintained, cannot handle prolonged disruption or surges. The longer a disruptive event lasts, the greater the impact is on the supply chain and the more complicated it becomes to return the system to something that resembles balance.
Scheduling remains one of the biggest challenges. The removal of randomness is critical to the optimization of assets. Otherwise, the system is being built to accommodate waste, which puts increased cost into the supply chain.
From the perspective of a port authority, we can add value by working as a trusted partner to control or better manage the factors that are under our control. This includes working with supply chain partners to continuously improve by establishing KPIs, encouraging transparency and open sharing of data and information, and investing in those assets, both digital and physical, that make it easier and more efficient to move cargo through our gateways.
Port authorities have a role to play in advancing decarbonization across the supply chain — working with industry and the technology sector to develop green energy solutions applied to the next generation of cargo-handling vessels and equipment. We must do more to ensure that our surrounding communities are better able to share in the economic benefits that come with the shipping and transport industries, and that more people from all walks of life see themselves reflected in our collective industries. In short, we need to advance sustainability, to be inclusive and engaging, and take a leadership role in advancing the overall health and well-being of our surrounding communities.