Conceptual Model for the Operational Performance of the Container Terminals in India
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 4
Abstract
In the upcoming years, container terminals in India can attain more substantial throughput targets by exploiting their untapped potential of throughput. Numerous factors may affect the existing terminals’ ability to perform to their maximum capability. Despite the significance of the untapped potential, very few studies are available on the identification of the factors and their influence on the operational performance of the container terminals in India. The objective of this study is to identify the enabling and inhibiting factors and develop a conceptual model that indicates how their relationships affect the operational performance of the container terminals in India. This study identified 21 enabler attributes, 15 inhibitor attributes, and seven performance indicators through an extensive literature review and expert consultation. Furthermore, exploratory factor analysis was adopted to group the identified attributes into five enabling factors, three inhibiting factors, and two performance indicator factors through a questionnaire survey of 81 respondents from different container terminals in India. A hypothesized conceptual model encompassing all these attributes and factors was created and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM). The results revealed that the considered enabling and inhibiting factors have a significant influence on the operational performance of container terminals. Infrastructure upgrading and system initiatives, terminal facilities and policy, reefer (refrigerated container) systems and logistics advantage, systems and process, and concessions and cost initiatives are the critical enabling factors. In addition, management- and resource-related issues, infrastructure issues and market capture, and policy- and procedure-related issues may be deemed as critical inhibiting factors. This study may help port professionals and port operators to incorporate these factors and improve the operational performance of container terminals. Furthermore, this study contributes to the minimal literature available on the factors influencing the performance of Indian container terminals.
Practical Applications
This research identified 21 enabler attributes, 15 inhibitors attributes, and seven performance indicators influencing the operational performance of container terminals of India through literature review and expert opinions. These attributes were grouped using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) into five enabling factors, three inhibiting factors, and two performance indicators. A total of 81 respondents with 5 to 20+ plus years of experience from 26 Indian container terminals provided their responses to the questions asked in the survey. Structural equation modeling was utilized to develop a conceptual model indicating the relationships among the enabling, inhibiting, and performance indicator factors. The results revealed that infrastructure upgrading and system initiatives, terminal facilities and policy, reefer systems and logistics advantage, systems and process, and concessions and cost initiatives are the critical enabling factors. In addition, management- and resource-related issues, infrastructure issues and market capture, and policy- and procedure-related issues are deemed as critical inhibiting factors. This research shall help the port authorities to adopt enabling factors and mitigate the inhibitor factors to improve the operational performance of container terminals
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Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 4 • July 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 10, 2021
Accepted: Apr 1, 2022
Published online: May 16, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Oct 16, 2022
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- VPS Nihar Nanyam, Kumar Neeraj Jha, Operational performance model for Indian container terminals using qualitative comparative analysis, The Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics, 10.1016/j.ajsl.2022.08.001, 38, 4, (197-206), (2022).