• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.137-148
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• 2017

Port service level is a metric of competitiveness among ports for the operating/managing bodies such as the terminal operation company (TOC), Port Authority, or the government, and is used as an important indicator for shipping companies and freight haulers when selecting a port. Considering the importance of metrics, we developed software to objectively define and manage six important service indicators exclusive to container and bulk terminals including: berth occupancy rate, ship's waiting ratio, berth throughput, number of berths, average number of vessels waiting, and average waiting time. We computed the six service indicators utilizing berth 1 through berth 5 in the container terminals and berth 1 through berth 4 in the bulk terminals. The software model allows easy computation of expected ship's waiting ratio over berth occupancy rate, berth throughput, counts of berth, average number of vessels waiting and average waiting time. Further, the software allows prediction of yearly throughput by utilizing a ship's waiting ratio and other productivity indicators and making calculations based on arrival patterns of ship traffic. As a result, a TOC is able to make strategic decisions on the trade-offs in the optimal operating level of the facility with better predictors of the service factors (ship's waiting ratio) and productivity factors (yearly throughput). Successful implementation of the software would attract more shipping companies and shippers and maximize TOC profits.