Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (UPT) created for SWZ Maritime a special about ports in transition. The experts from Erasmus UPT highlight in the port special the force fields that have a major influence on ports. One thing is clear: transition is not only necessary because of sustainability and regulations. No, transition is a prerequisite for facing the future decisively.
Bart Kuipers, senior researcher in port economics: “Just like the maritime sector, seaports are highly sensitive to external influences. Influences such as government policy, demography, energy and sustainability, technology, economy and finally financial driving forces. These forces strongly influence the Dutch seaports, despite the fact that they differ considerably from each other. "
Choosing relevant themes
Kuipers: “In order to display all relevant developments in seaports, we would need several port specials. That is why we have chosen from relevant themes. "
Metro map for innovation
Maurice Jansen discusses the port as an innovation ecosystem. He describes the great importance of the training and innovation infrastructure on the basis of illustrative "metro maps". In a second article, Jansen describes the digitisation of the port and explains relevant, new concepts.
China and containers
The role of China is also discussed in the port special. China's investment program in rail and sea ports - the Belt and Road Initiative - is of great importance for the ports in the Gdansk-Le Havre range. How should we interpret the impact of Belt and Road? Wouter Jacobs mainly describes the geopolitical aspects of this initiative and the consequences for North-West European ports. China is also inextricably linked to the flood of containers that come to our country by sea and more and more by rail. The increasing scale of container ships poses major problems in the handling of inland shipping in the port of Rotterdam. Martijn Streng and Niels van Saase discuss this matter.
Yes or no on an exemption for liner shipping operators?
Larissa van der Lugt describes in the Maritime market how she views the exemption that liner shipping operators receive in alliances and related forms of cooperation. A topical issue that the EU will decide on next year. Finally, Bart Kuipers gives his vision of the major challenge that the Dutch ports face to really make them more sustainable.
Anton Oosting, editor-in-chief of SWZ Maritime, is very satisfied with the collaboration: “We are happy to work with Bart Kuipers. He and his colleagues from UPT are responsible for no fewer than six articles, plus an introduction to the port special included in this issue. "
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The specialists at Erasmus Center for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (UPT) are happy to share their knowledge and insights. Do you also want to collaborate with our experts? You can! Call our secretariat now and schedule your appointment.
Erasmus Center for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (UPT), telephone: +31 (0)10 408 1186 / +31(0)10 408 2567