World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research (4 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Applying the quantitative approach to identify the major antecedents to the process of cold ironing adoption  
  by Son-Tung Le 
  Abstract: Seaports are important nodes in global commerce networks, but they also produce considerable amounts of pollutants. Cold ironing is one of the technological solutions that allows seaports to be both economically and environmentally efficient. However, various difficulties remain to be solved before this technology may be implemented. The purpose of this study is to examine at the factors that led to the adoption of cold ironing in Vietnam ports. Our finding shows that there are four primary factors that influence how ports are used for cold ironing, including regulation drivers, incentive drivers, macroeconomic drivers, and foreign capital drivers. Among the factors mentioned above, regulations, as one of the most important, influence the implementation of cold ironing for emission reduction at ports in Vietnam. The discussion section of this paper goes into considerable detail about its findings and implications.
  Keywords: cold ironing; green ports; drivers; regulations; sustainability.
  
  
• Evaluation of the implementation of automated gate services in a seaport freight terminal  
  by Stefan Jacobsson, Björn Lantz 
  Abstract: The massive flows of containers through seaport terminals create bottlenecks and long total truck turnaround times (TTTTs). Because long TTTTs adversely affect terminal operators and road hauliers alike, the purpose of this study is to evaluate how automated gate services (AGSs) affect TTTTs using data from the real-world implementation of AGSs in a seaport terminal. Data were analysed using an innovative application of queueing theory. Following implementation, the overall mean TTTT decreased by 17% and the overall mean queueing time by 38%, and variation in queueing time during peak hours also decreased. For theory, our study has shown how queuing theory can be applied in capacity analyses and contributed a new understanding of how AGSs can decrease queuing time and TTTTs in a seaport terminal. For practice, our findings provide decision-makers with evidence of how AGSs decrease TTTTs and consequently reduce stress, reduce idling, and increase profit.
  Keywords: automated gate services; total truck turnaround times; seaport freight terminal; queuing theory.
  
  
• Measuring economic convergence: evidence from container throughputs of ASEAN-5 countries  
  by Chutarat Noosuwan, Yuthana Autsadee, Cherdvong Saengsupavanich, Abdullah Açık 
  Abstract: The main purpose of the ASEAN union is economic integration and sustainable growth. In this regard, measuring whether past policies implemented are successful or not is important in deciding whether there is a need for improvement in future policies. The success of integration can be measured by the convergence hypothesis, and successful policies are expected to generate convergence between countries. Unlike the literature, we aimed to determine whether there is economic convergence among ASEAN-5 countries by testing convergence on their container throughputs that are not affected by inflationary effects. According to the results we obtained with panel unit root and stationarity tests, countries are converging to each other and the difference in trade volumes is closing. This shows that the implemented policies are successful and the sustainable growth target is being achieved. Our study supports the findings of economic convergence in the literature through a less manipulable variable. It is recommended that policy makers and researchers also consider container throughputs volumes when measuring the success of implemented policies.
  Keywords: economic convergence; container throughput; panel unit root.
  
  
• Panama Canal expansion and Florida seaports: the role of seaport preparation and dry ports in post-expansion success.  
  by Michael J. Williams, Angela L. Cheatham, Dawna L. Rhoades 
  Abstract: Bigger and better is the way of the supply chain. Increases in consumer demand have played a significant role in the development of our transportation system and customer satisfaction. As demand increases, so does the need for larger vessels to carry the goods. Prior to the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2016, U.S. East Coast ports began their expansion to handle the new, larger container vessels. Florida was no exception. Various public-private interests also began to develop dry ports to provide hinterland support. This study examined the role of dry ports as a solution to the change in container traffic along the United States’ East Coast with a closer look at Florida’s port system, the impact on the supply chain, and progress in the development of hinterland dry ports.
  Keywords: Panama Canal expansion; Florida Port System. dry(hinterland) ports; rail connections; port competitiveness.