Ports use barge loading and unloading equipment on a daily basis. Transferring cargo from ship to shore and vice versa represents one of the fundamental purposes of inland ports and seaports. Unfortunately, some ports continue to use outdated and inefficient equipment that hinders productivity, increases operational costs, and eats into the bottom line.
Since ports are so vital to the economy, it is imperative that they operate as efficiently as possible to keep trade moving steadily and without costly delays.
U.S. Seaports are responsible for creating many American jobs. In fact, according to the American Association of Port Authorities, seaport-related jobs provide for roughly 1.2 billion dollars in personal income as well as local consumption.
Approximately 15,000 jobs are created for every $1 billion exports that are shipped through U.S. Seaports.
Seaports also account for 26% of the U.S. economy and thus are vital economic engines. The most recent statistics report that seaports have generated more than 4.6 trillion in total economic activity and $321 billion in total state, federal, and local taxes.
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Ports can be compared in |
Top 10 North American Ports |
| Volume | 1. Los Angeles |
| Value of trade | 2. Long Beach |
| Number of cruise passengers | 3. New York/New Jersey |
| Revenues | 4. Savannah |
| Storage capacity | 5. Seattle |
| Productivity | 6. Metro Port Vancouver |
| Efficiency | 7. Hampton Roads |
| Responsiveness to customers | 8. Oakland |
| 9. Houston | |
| 10. Charleston |
Future ports will be bigger, faster, greener, and smarter.
In other words, their future is shaped by five main features that all begin with an S:
We will begin seeing "megaships" being utilized that may need a bigger space and more efficient machines to load and unload goods.
A port that will better adapt to future challenges is one that will invest in innovation and be willing to be at the frontier of applying new ideas and technologies. Ports that adopt "greener" environmentally-friendly technology will also face less resistance from the local population.
Overall, machinery that is fast, efficient, sustainable, and reliable will decrease costs associated with delays, fuel, and labor overtime. When planning to invest in machinery, make sure to do your due diligence and partner with a company that meets these criteria so you can plan for the future and stay competitive.