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An evaluation of the relationship between ship turnaround time and key port performance indicators: a case study of a Southern African port

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Abstract

The competitiveness of a container port is dependent on the productivity of its container terminal operations. To enhance productivity, management of logistics and implementation of strategies are crucial. This paper aims to identify performance measures impacting productivity within the container terminal port operations value chain through a combination of a case study and documentary research. Data was collected quantitatively from marine, container, and hinterland dimensions. Regression and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine correlations between independent and dependent key performance measures. The study found that almost 80% of changes in ship turnaround time (STAT) were explained by the measures investigated, including anchorage (AWT), gross crane (GCH) and ship working hours (SWH), and rail (RTT) and truck turnaround times (TTT). Improvements in gross crane and ship working hours, together with rail turnaround, resulted in increased productivity. This study contributes to new knowledge by examining the relationship between STAT as a dependent variable and AWT, GCH, SWT, TTT, and RTT as independent variables using a case study of a Southern African port. The significance of the study is its contribution to revealing the relationship between STAT and other key performance indicators of container terminal productivity levels in a port.

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Abbreviations

AWT:

Anchorage waiting time

CDT:

Cargo dwell time

GCH:

Gross crane per hour

GWT:

Gate waiting time

RTT:

Rail turnaround time

STAT:

Ship turnaround time

SWH:

Ship working hour

TTT:

Truck turnaround time

UNCTAD:

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

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Correspondence to Lawrence Kuroshi.

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Appendix: Set of secondary data for analysis

Appendix: Set of secondary data for analysis

1.1 Key performance indicators

Appendix Tables 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11

Table 6 Ship turnaround time (STAT)
Table 7 Anchorage waiting time (AWT)
Table 8 Gross crane hour (GCH)
Table 9 Ship working hours (SWH)
Table 10 Rail turnaround time (RTT)
Table 11 Truck turnaround time (TTT)

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Mazibuko, D.F., Mutombo, K. & Kuroshi, L. An evaluation of the relationship between ship turnaround time and key port performance indicators: a case study of a Southern African port. WMU J Marit Affairs (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-024-00330-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-024-00330-z

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