WAFN - Risk management and resilience for ports and maritime operations

Seaborne transport plays a crucial role in local, national, and global economies, helping to shift manufacturing networks from regional to global scales. However, trade operations are susceptible to the impacts of changing climate patterns. This study examines how climate disruptions affect India's international trade by analysing the seaport traffic of eight major Indian ports from FY 1982 to FY 2021. Using Principal Component Analysis, the authors created a climate index encompassing wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation. The findings demonstrate that the index notably impacts port activities. Additionally, our analysis accounts for variables like railway route length and road length since these factors directly impact cargo flow and net income of the port's coastal state, as they influence trade volumes, thereby shaping overall port throughput. We employ econometric techniques and diagnostic checks to draw empirical inferences. Furthermore, the analysis is also done along the ports of India's eastern and western coasts, given their different climatic and economic conditions. India's position as a climate change hotspot heightens the vulnerability of its ports. The methods and findings discussed provide steps for policymakers to prioritise training, revise insurance policies, upgrade infrastructure, promote stakeholder collaboration, and adopt green solutions to mitigate climate impact.

Climate change poses multifaceted risks to the global shipping industry, demanding comprehensive understanding and strategic responses. This paper provides a systematic analysis of climate-related risks in the maritime sector, examining their interconnections and cascading effects across five key categories: litigation, policy, contractual, technological, and social risks. Through extensive literature analysis, we demonstrate how these risks interact and influence the industry's transition toward decarbonization. Our findings reveal the complex interplay between regulatory demands, technological innovation, and social pressures, highlighted through a detailed case study of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel. The research emphasizes the importance of adopting a holistic approach to risk assessment and mitigation, as addressing challenges in isolation may create unintended consequences elsewhere in the system. 

Maritime oil transportation networks constitute a critical foundation for industrial production and energy security in import-dependent nations within the global energy market. Through the analysis of the AIS data, this study investigates the dynamic evolution of Chinese seaports network for oil imports over the past six years and systematically examines connectivity patterns, and the vulnerabilities of crucial chokepoints. The results indicate that China's oil import seaborne network has remained relatively stable. However, there has been a shift in connections from the African regions to the Arabian Gulf regions. Simulation results reveals that a hypothetical blockage of the Malacca Strait disruption would severely impact China's oil transportation network. Additionally, the alternative routes are analysed under the chokepoint failure scenario considering from distance increasement and the fuel consumption perspective. This study offers valuable insights for stakeholders, facilitating evidence-based decision-making in route optimization, vessel allocation, and enhancing the resilience of oil supply chains.

The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake caused severe disruptions to land-based transportation as a result of widespread road damage, landslides, and collapsed infrastructure, leaving many affected areas isolated. This paper examines the role of maritime transport and port facilities in response to the disaster, with a focus on three key ports: Nanao Port, Wajima Port, and Iida Port. Despite sustaining damage, these ports played critical roles in facilitating emergency relief operations, including the transport of relief supplies, water distribution, and temporary shelter for affected individuals. Nanao Port's seismic-reinforced quay enabled it to support the delivery of relief supplies and serve as a base for responders' rest and resupply activities. Wajima Port was utilized for water supply operations and the transport of emergency restoration materials, despite vertical displacements and shoaling. Iida Port, though partially impaired, facilitated the transport of temporary housing materials and essential supplies to isolated communities. The present findings highlight the practicality of maritime transport as an alternative logistics method when road networks are disrupted. Strengthening the earthquake resilience of port infrastructure and developing flexible response strategies tailored to regional conditions will be essential for improving disaster preparedness and recovery efforts in the future.