Port of New York and New Jersey
1.0 Introduction
This study will describe the current freight flows of the port and future freight flows after the implementation of recommended improvement projects. Notably, a multi-year planning horizon will be utilized in setting projects geared at improving the port. In this study, background information regarding the port, improvement initiatives and innovations that have already been implemented and those to be implemented to facilitate port efficiency will be examined.
Image of the Port
Source: Birnbaum (2014)
- Background Information
Market
Based on the size and the quantity of cargo handled, port of New York and New Jersey is regarded as the leading marine transportation hub on the US East Coast, New York Harbor. The port transports goods to vast regions across the many countries. Birnbaum (2014) notes that the port has a wide catch up area and is working to ensure it remains the dominant transportation destination on the East Coast of North America region.
Location
The port is strategically situated on the East Coast thus are easily accessible. The port prides itself for its direct routes that connect to each other to ensure marine transportation is attained more easily.
Port Location
Source: Birnbaum (2014)
Products and Services
The port handles every type of cargo that ranges from imaginable containers; roll on-roll off automobiles, and liquid and dry bulk in addition to specialized project cargo. Premised on Hoque (2012) dispositions, the port has locally specialized in exporting packers. The Port is classified as the third busiest among the ports in the US. The parameter used for ranking is grounded on the total imports and exports by weight the ports receives and sends out annually.
A study executed by Birnbaum (2014) found that almost 80% of all the cargo imported into the port of New York and New Jersey is marketed to esteemed consumers who stay within 100 miles of the port. Consequently, this has boosted the economy of the people living in the metropolitan area of the US. Additionally, the positive effect has brought forth growth and stability in the area and developments in infrastructure and realization of ideal and desirable transportation destination of the port.
Suppliers
The Port receives cargo from other ports along the coast. The Port enjoys the reputation of being the sea route to one of the most densely populated and affluent consumer markets in the world. The Port receives a record volume of cargo enabling it to maintain its position as the busiest on the East Coast with nearly 30 percent of the total market share.
Port Authority is obliged to maintain and operate public berths where shippers are able to arrange to load and offload their cargo with more ease. Majority of the vehicles coming into and out of the Port use public berths that entail bulk and break bulk. In order to ensure that the reception section of the port receives the maximum cargo, maintenance of the terminals’ facilities and underlying infrastructure is done by the ports authority. This includes transport connections.
5.0 Metrics Utilized by the Port
The Port is able to handle vast bulk and break-bulk needs, from salt and Belgian block to juice and edible oils. In 2015, the port handled 43 million metric tons of bulk imports and exports. Additionally, it handles every type of cargo that entails imaginable containers; roll on-roll off automobiles, liquid and dry bulk, and break-bulk and specialized project cargo. The port has a streamlined network based in many countries across the globe to fast track the cargo movement and deliver efficiency in cargo handling in the port.
6.0 Improvement Initiatives and Innovations Already Implemented
Clean Air Strategy
The Port Authority has worked with its partners to develop a Clean Air Strategy for the Port in order to with deal with bulk and the bulk; breaking imports and exports (Hoque, 2012). The strategy stipulates practical actions that the Port and industry stakeholders can execute in order to reduce diesel and greenhouse emissions in advance of potential regulations.
Program of Clean Vessel Incentive
The already implemented strategy aims at minimizing nitrogen oxide and the particulate matter that enhances pollution as well as greenhouse gases. The actions employed was geared at curbing this problems was implemented by replacing the oldest and most polluting trucks serving the port and the installation of shore power capability at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Additionally, retrofit of two switcher locomotives that served the Port’s on-dock rail operations was replaced with Gen-Set systems. Modernization of cargo handling equipment was also done by use terminal operators leasing space from the Port Authority.
Environmental Stewardship
The commitment stratified by the Ports Authority includes safeguarding the land, water, and air. Ensuring that natural resources, flora, and fauna are taken care of, the port implemented the initiative. Consequently, the port adopted the environmental stewardship to protect the environment. The Port’s management also amended the program of the Clean Vessel Incentive in order to increase participation and achieve least emissions.
Further, the amended initiative is programed to run through December 31, 2018 in order to ensure full environmental protection. The port also extends financial incentives in making voluntary engine, fuel and technology enhancements geared at minimizing emissions beyond the regulatory environmental standards in relation to those stipulated by the organization of the International Maritime (Birnbaum, 2014).
7.0 Improvement Initiatives and Innovations to Consider
The major problem faced by the port is the limited air draft of the Bayonne Bridge .The engineers and architects who designed and constructed the bridge never foresaw the size of cargo ships that would be destined for the Port. Presently, the size Bayonne Bridge is too small to handle the huge cargo ships that operate from the port. As stipulated Hoque (2012), the size of the air draft bridge is 151 foot far way too small to meet the demands of the classic ships. The port’s situation needs remedial action because in many instances, vessels must await low tide to benefit from air draft so that the mast or antennas do not strike the bridge.
8.0 Next Step to Improving the Port
In order to address the Bayonne Bridge capacity issue, the port’s management has announced plans premised on a multi-year planning horizon to construct a new and spacious span over the existing bridge in order to increase the height of the air draft to 215 foot from the 151 foot. The improvement seeks to allow the new classic class of ships to pass safely into Newark Bayonne Bridge and accommodate massive container terminals, which are located on its shores.
The Port’s management is also seeking to ensure that there is continued growth of the port as well as the economic and national security issues of the surrounding region for the port’s operators to enjoy a serene environment to execute tasks effectively.
9.0 Comparison of the Supply chain
In this section, a comparison of the supply chain with the best practice will be done. The supply chain should be guided by the standard practice (Birnbaum, 2014). As such, the port is situated at the heart of the Northeast Corridor thus logistically and strategically positioning it to easy access to the nation. This connectivity is critical in linking it to other ports and ensuring an extensive supply chain of transporting cargo. The port serves as a gateway for products designated to 21 million consumers across vast regions globally.
Image of Supply Chain
Source: Birnbaum (2014)
Premised on the statistics contained in Hoque (2012) study, the port delivers more than 100 within a day to regions that entail Midwest and the Eastern Canada. As a resulted, the port enjoys the best-connected business locations spread in the U.S. By the use of the port’s expatriates, the port works towards connecting far-flung ports to scale up its base. Further, the port has unlimited advantage to exploring new investment and improving the ports operations, products, and transportation services to enhance port efficiency
Conclusion
This study established that the port enjoys the best-connection network in the Unites States East Coast. However, the port faces a major problem of the limited air draft of the Bayonne Bridge. Based on the multi-year planning horizon, the port’s management has planned to construct a new and spacious span of 215 foot from the present 151 foot. Further, it was also concluded that the ports has an advantage to exploring new investment and improvements to enhance efficiency of the port operations.
References
Birnbaum, W. (2014). Strategic thinking: A four piece puzzle. Costa Mesa, CA: Douglas Mountain Pub.
Hoque, F. (2012). Why Innovation Fails, Fast Company, viewed 24 February 2017, http://www.fastcompany.com/3002768/why-innovation-fails