A Short Course on Port and Terminal Management

Name of the Lecturer: Prof. Koi Yu Adolf NG, University of Manitoba

Subject description:

This course introduces students the principles and practices of port and terminal management, providing students with adequate knowledge on the development of shipping and supply chains on the nature of ports and terminals, their relationship with city and regions, management and governance structures, sustainability, and interaction with surrounding regions. Also, the course introduces students to port-related practical problems.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

· Solve managerial and technical problems in operating ports and terminals

· Support the continuous development and efficiency enhancement of ports and terminals

· Understand major issues in port and terminal ownership, management, and governance

· Develop, coordinate, control outstanding issues in ports and terminals

Syllabus:

Lecture Day 1:   Shipping, Global Supply Chains, and Port Logistics

This module introduces the changing roles of ports in the global logistical and supply chain systems. The evolution of port-focal logistics is also introduced, notably on their changing roles and functions in facilitating global supply chain systems.

Lecture Day 2:   Port-City and Regional Relationship

This module introduces the changing relationship between port and the city and regions. It includes the traditional contributions of ports to city and regional development and how such a relationship has changed since containerization. Also, port industrial areas and free-trade logistics zones are also introduced.

Lecture Days 3-4:   Port Ownership, Management, and Governance

This module introduces the need for governance reforms in ports. The module introduces the major port governance ownership models, the tools in achieving such models, and the major challenges. Finally, the institutional reforms of port authorities are also introduced.

Lecture Day 5: Adaptation and Resilience of Port Facilities

Climate change has posed significant impacts on ports. Thus, the extent that port facilities can adapt and remain resilience to climate change impacts becomes an important issue in deciding port efficiency. In this module, the major impacts due to climate change on ports are discussed, as well as the approaches and real-world case studies on ports developing resilience to such impacts.

Lecture Day 6: Dry Ports and Inland Container Depots

The development of global supply chains has led to the regionalization of ports, while inland regions are also keen to develop facilities so as to boost the regional economic development. This module discusses different types of dry ports, as well as their roles and impacts on the development of supply chains and regional economic development.

Lecture Day 7:   Port Competition

Competition between ports become more intense than ever. This module introduces the changing relationships between ports and discusses why inter-port competition has become more intensified in recent decades. Also, this module focuses on the options that ports have in maintaining and enhancing their competitive positions, as well as the major challenges. The increasingly cooperative relationship between ports is also addressed.

Lecture Day 8:    Written Examination and Student Presentations

The written examination will take place during this lecture. After then, there is a real-case exercise on port development. Students are requested to provide solutions (in terms of group presentations, 5 students per group) that can effectively solve the problems and challenges as indicated in the exercise. The case will be discussed during the lecture.

Time Table: