ABR-11550.pdf

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Archives of Business Research – Vol. 10, No. 8

Publication Date: August 25, 2022

DOI:10.14738/abr.108.11550. Owoputi, A. E., & Owoputi, O. O. (2022). Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of Sustainability. Archives of Business

Research, 10(8). 62-73.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of

Sustainability

Owoputi, Adetose Emmanuel

Department of Logistics and Transport Technology

School of Logistics and Innovation Technology

Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria

Owoputi, Owolabi Oluwatosin

Nigeria LNG Ship Management Ltd

ABSTRACT

Seaport remains the most feasible for the activities of terminals, international

export and import business activities where loading and offloading of inter-land

distribution through inland waterways, rail, road and air to ensure that what

comes in or go out are checked to meet the national and international rules and

regulation guiding seaport operations. As a source of major point of commercial

activity along the coast. As a source of pollution, harbors need to be strategically

located to provide the greatest benefit according to economic and environmental

issues. The marine environment and its effects on ports design, port warehousing,

port operation, port hydraulics, coastal geomorphology, littoral drift and

sedimentation, port security and safety for shipping technology and economics

activities, design and construction of a floating port related structure and other

environmental issues. Seaport building must have the organizational capacities

to appropriately perceive issues, analysis information about complex economic

and environmental relationships factors of turbulent transition, increasing

demand on ports to acquire, assimilate, highly fragmented information about

new potential constraints and opportunities in port management and challenges

of it sustainability. The geotechnical and Structural aspect of the port

construction have been given very little attention. This research use an annotated

conversation and questioner to address the above issues, with the aim to apply

concepts of practice, port elements and their effects on seaports. This research

use an annotated conversation and questioner to address the above issues, and

their effects on seaports. This research have to investigate the needed

professionals, in civil, structural , geotechnical, hydraulic engineers and

consultants to strength the usage of modern materials, corrosion, naval- architecture and other input knowledges of which is required to produce a sound

and commercial design of a modern standard seaport or marine terminal for

sustainability.

Key word: Seaport, Building Project, Management and Challenges.

INTRODUCTION

Port construction and design consideration has been influenced by changes in water vehicles

size, vessel and modern terminal operations, event of new technology that resulted in

effect on both the design of port structures and lay-out of the terminals. To understand the

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Owoputi, A. E., & Owoputi, O. O. (2022). Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of Sustainability. Archives of Business Research, 10(8). 62-

73.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/abr.108.11550

interactions between the environmental agents, such as waves, currents, and wind, the

harbor soils, backfill materials with bottom – fixed marine structures. The usual

multipurpose terminals that resulted in effects on both the design of building structures

and sustainability of the port.

Maritime transportation has generally been the most convenient and least expensive

means of transporting goods and this is why mankind since ancient times has been

steadily extending its activities into this areas. The civil engineers design, build and

maintain foundation of modern infrastructure of seaport and a host of socialites of

economic investment and environment structures having impact on freight traffic focus,

types of freights and problems associated with seaport activities like containerized

cargoes, general cargoes, roll on –roll –off cargoes and also petroleum products, handling

plants equipment turn around time private sector participation and operational efficiency

at the seaport.

Marine structures for various port purpose have been developed using new design and

construction principles and operation of these structure to improve new port

constructions. Better tending system and efficient mooring accessories. New and better

structural materials have been introduced e.g. Modern concrete technology now enables

the engineer to use durable high- strength concrete which are highly resistant to

deterioration in harsh marine environments.

For more water vehicles to berth and keep the rivers usable for mobility and more ship,

more ports, piers has to be constructed along the river banks. ( Chitkara, K. K. 2011) This

was the beginning of the development of modern ports which lead to ever increasing

demand for shipping and port facilities construction for open seaports along Mediterranean

coastline, while the Roman build the famous naval port in Rome at “Tiber river in Odtia”.

Many of these old ports and harbor have disappeared either being destroyed during war

or buried by earth quakes or through neglect and decadence, lack of maintenance. The

interchange of good and raw materials between countries and continents reached by

maritime traffic as well as the development of powerful navy fleet brought development

of large seaports. (Gupta, et, la, 2008).

This also aids new and better repair procedure. New habitation techniques for port

structures have also been introduced. Maritime transportation has generally been the

most convenient and least expensive means of transporting goods and this is why mankind

since ancient times has steadily extending its activities into this area. The history of

maritime transportation and port development dates back to the year 3500 B. C. Water

transportation has been in steps with the needs of world trade and technical capabilities

to build larger ships and ship / cargo handling facilities, water borne traffic has existed on

a local basis where small ship sailed out of river ports for other nearby port located in

the same river system. ( Thomas , B. 1992 ). Navigational skills ventured into greater

distances, the larger ships transporting larger quantities of goods have emerged. As ship

traffic increased the existing river ports became over crowded

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Archives of Business Research (ABR) Vol. 10, Issue 8, August-2022

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SEAPORT SITE SELECTION OF LOCATION

The seaport are regarded as a factor of economic growth in any countries. This is to assess

the social and economic impacts of seaport investment for sustainability.

At the time of site selection for a seaport, great care should be exercised and some factors

are expected to be put into consideration:-

(a) Availability of cheap land and construction materials.

(b) Natural protection from waves and winds

(d) Sea-bed, sub-Soil and foundation conditions.

(e) Availability of fresh water and electrical energy

(f) Favourable marine conditions

(g) Defense and strategic aspects

(h) Traffic potentiality of the seaport

The site should have maximum natural protection from winds and waves. It should have

sufficiently large pool of water, with adequate depth to accommodate the expected shipping

needs as well as to permit the future needs. ( Dally H. K. 1981 ) The marine conditions

should be favourable for structures as well as for navigation. To meet this requirement

the site should have low tidal range and small tidal currents. There should not be severe

wind and waves and the should be less littoral drift. There should be no fog problem at

the site. The sea bed should be such that it would hold ship anchors and would not

involve much capital and grudging maintenance cost. There should not be excessive

siltation nor scour should pose a problem .

Apart from the above conditions the sub soil for foundation purposes should be favourable,

The site to be selected should be preferably on an established trade route and have links

with other parts of the country, through rail, road air and telephones. The hinter land

should be productive enough to support the trade. All these conditions are desirable, but

not necessary. ( Srikanth S. et, la. 2013). The shape of the seaport must be to protect the

seaport from sea waves, one of the pier heads should project a little beyond the others.

The inside of the seaport pier-head, the width should widen very rapidly. The general

shape of the seaport should be obtained by a series of staring length and no re-entrant

angle should be allowed. The seaport depth of the channel is determined by the following

D = D1 + H + D2

Where D = depth of the channel

D1 = draft of the largest ship to be accommodated

H = height of storm waves

D2 = allowance for squat of the moving ship.

This is to allow the seaport and approach channel should be of sufficient depth to allow

the navigation at low water where the ship is fully loaded. It must be ensured that there

should be no obstruction such as boulder or sunken ships up to the required depth for

safe navigation.

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Owoputi, A. E., & Owoputi, O. O. (2022). Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of Sustainability. Archives of Business Research, 10(8). 62-

73.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/abr.108.11550

The maximum seaport depth below the lowest low water should be follows.. When the

bed is soft max seaport depth = loaded draft + 1.2m. when bottom is hard i.e. rock

bottom max seaport = depth = loaded draft + 1.8 m. ( Takahashi, S. 2012 ).

There is need to undertake the following surveys;_ (i) Marine surveys, (ii) Hydrographic

survey and (iii) Topographic survey. The seaport planning should be carried out after

collecting the necessary information of the existing features at the proposed site. The

following important factors should be studied ;- (a) Survey of the neighborhood including

the fore-shore and depths of water in the vicinity. (b) The nature of the seaport, whether

sheltered or not. (c) The probable surface condition on land, borings on. (d) The problem

of sitting or coast line should be studied. ( e ) The probable surface condition on land,

boring on land which will help in locating the seaport correctly. (f ) Natural

meteorological phenomenon should be at site with respect to frequency of storms, rainfall,

range of tides, maximum and minimum temptation, direction and intensity of wind,

humidity, direction and velocity of currents., ( Anya, O Anya 2003 ).

Seaport location area requirement depends upon the following factors factor :- (1 ) The

number of ships and their size to be accommodated at a time. (2) The length and width

needed for movement of ships to and from berths. (3) The type of cargo carried. (4 )

To make the seaport useful for operating and dispatching ships, the water depth in the

entrance approach channel and harbor basin should be sufficient even at the lower low

water spider tide.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

OTHER FEATURES OF THE SEAPORT FOR SUSTAINABILITY

I. The entrance channel, (ii) Approach channel (iii) Berthing basin (iv) Break

waters

II. Turning basin to allow gradual turning of the ship., (v) Quays and wharves (vi)

Jetties and Piers (vii) Docks (viii) Slipways ( ix ) fire protection towers, Mooring

SEAPORT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND APPURTENANCES OF A SEAPORT

Construction activity has been in existence since the caveman started building his dwelling.

It has created many wonders in the world and has produced many facilities for the benefit

of the mankind . Construction is the major component of the new investments in seaport

industry, it is the essential ingredient for the seaport growth of the economy sustainability

of any country.

For the proper functioning of a seaport, many structures are to be constructed, these

structure are known as appurtenances of the seaport. In short, it can be said that a seaport

is built along the shore to berth vessels for loading and unloading is called a Wharves.

Warts are built into or on the land. Wharves built along and parallel to the shore are

generally called Quays and their protection walls are called quay walls. This Wharves can

also be defined as a wall constructed along a shore or bank to berth vessels for operations.

( Owoputi, et, la 2020 ).

Organizing the major works into one or more construction projects for implementation.

Seaport building projects contain numerous inter-dependent and inter-related activities. It

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Archives of Business Research (ABR) Vol. 10, Issue 8, August-2022

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employ voluminous resources. Seaport is a fast changing environments of the present era

of global trade impose numerous time, cost, financial, legal, ethical, environmental and

logistic constraints . It has inbuilt difficulties, uncertainties and risks. ( Harman, 2008 ).

The studies reveal that most of the construction projects face time and cost over-runs

mostly due to management failures,. The construction of seaport industry project required

management features, processes, environments and organization which are under the

following .:-

• Construction landmarks

• Construction scope

• Seaport project concept and features

• Seaport building project development phases, and process

• Seaport project management practice

• Seaport project management organization

• Seaport project manager role and competency skills

• Seaport main causes of project failure

• Importance of integrated planning, scheduling and controlling of construction

projects.-

These are part of the factors , on-land marks:- World famous seaport constructions.

World’s largest seaport projects and programme and High – Tech seaport building

technology.

Seaport construction scope:- Marketing Ability :- International export market,

Infrastructure domestic market, Construction participants, Business promoters / clients,

Seaport management consultants, Architect engineering Associates, Financial institutions,

Input suppliers, Contractors and Stakeholders.

Management Issues

The major implication derived from these studies can be enumerated as:- The process of

seaport development design, the type of structural input and the engineering facilities

equipment. This form of port building, specialization has implication for provision of

facilities at the port. Major problems affecting seaport development is fund and skilled

manpower, modern infrastructure materials and equipment. Port congestion through lack

of modern handling equipment, lack of spaces, Lack of communication equipment, lack of

safety and security in every terminal in the seaport, that are capable of handling and receiving

such very large vessels and ships. The adoption of the structural terminal management that

represent a dynamic profitable and efficient function of seaport management for sustainable

programmes.

Seaport management can best be handle and administered by professional skilled manpower

human resources for driven initiative technical management and environmental efficiency.

This will promote economic rationality and industrial benefits that will lead to sustainable

port infrastructure and terminal utilization. With the above finding, most modern seaport

development models are of port – city interface support, private allied business growth,

modern industrial development, expansion of value added logistics activities to create

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Owoputi, A. E., & Owoputi, O. O. (2022). Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of Sustainability. Archives of Business Research, 10(8). 62-

73.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/abr.108.11550

income and revenues. Employment of a variety of related industries loading and off- loading of cargo, storing, distribution. ( Canning, D 1999 )

With containerization, the extension of hinter lands leads to more overlap among

hinterlands of different ports resulting to handled across quays . Demand increment

from port activities such as stevedoring, storage , distribution and value added logistics

activities can lead to increase in production and employment in local and national economy.

Seaport industry can only be possible with production activities of other sectors. Economic

activities of hinterland are imperative for existence of seaport industry.

The impact of seaport on developing nations are :- direct impact, ii. Indirect impact iii..

induced impact and iv. Catalytic impact. Seaport investment affects either economy or

regional development investment of seaport have been increased urban developments

with employment and infrastructure economic growth.

Seaport building failure

A project environment comprises various inter related constituents such as resources,

tasks and technology along with the people working against time under stress and strain

all of these combine together to achieve the common project objectives. The problems

of management are so complex that they defy simple solutions. Some of these are beyond

the management’s control but some can be avoided. The following causes of seaport

failure can be attributed to management failure.

As a result of the need to develop basic seaport Infrastructure all at one time creates large

capital operating losses and foregone investment opportunities:-

Under used capacity during the earlier phases of the project led to failure, and the life span

of the seaport infrastructure projects often exceeds the time horizon acceptable for private

investors and commercial banks. Seaport infrastructure is immobile and has few

alternative uses. The linkages between seaports and cities interact a cross many dimensions

and the port objectives.

Transport integration, smooth transfer of cargo and equipment from land to water –

vehicle / borne system is an essential port function, This does not take place in isolation

due to the facts that seaport node within a multimodal transport system is frequently

associated with the development of urban center ( Owoputi A.E et, la. 2018)

1. Planning failure:- It is due to unclear objectives and targets, unworkable plans, top

management’s failure to back up the plans, failure to identify critical items, lack of

understanding of operating procedures and policy directions, reluctance to take timely

decisions and ignorance of appropriate planning tools and techniques.

2. Organisational failure:- It is due to incorrect Organisational Structures resulting in

conflict, confusion of responsibility, inadequate delegation of authority at various levels,

higher management interference, lack of stress on accountability and a tendency of people

to escape responsibility by passing on the buck.

3. Resource Failure:- It is due to an improper choice of the project manager,

inexperienced staff, and failure to procure and position resources per the planned

schedules.

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4. Directional Failure:- It can be attributed to a lack of team spirit, internal conflicts,

poor human resource management, labour strikes.

5. Controlling Failure:- It is due to unclear targets, inadequate information flow,

incompetency in adopting appropriate monitoring techniques, and an absence of timely

corrective measures. This can be attributed to a breakdown of communication at various

levels, lack of day – to – day decisions to fill procedural gaps and an absence of cooperation

and esprit de corps. While some failure may be as a result of faulty procurement of

machinery and materials, bad workmanship, poor performance of sub- contractors,

accidents, unforeseen bad weather and failure to adapt to the local conditions. (

International Transport Forum ITF 2011 ). Global population increasing and growth in

social and economic investment and challenges as well as provision of employment and

international trade exchange known as export / import practice with unpredictable climate

change, issues of sustainable development are assuming greater importance in most

corporate strategy sessions , it is of great significance to a wide group of stakeholders

in seaport activities.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Seaport with long term aspiration vision to build a World – Class seaport , should involve

a company that delivers premium value to stakeholders, should have from inception

issues of a sound sustainability practices into the seaport business model. The operation

should be able to maximizes all positive impact on various stakeholders groups and

minimize , if not totally eliminate the negative impact of our operations.

The finding shows that seaport proactive engagement should have modern global

international business organization are more based on accountability of their activities

than in the past, stakeholders are interested in the efforts of the company b to go beyond

sustainability working in anticipation for greater success, evaluation, expansion by

providing more possible technology and technics in its operations. Other view shows

that organized scheduled meeting held ad-ho- meeting, organize community meeting with

committee and community heads in relating to the projects, Commencements and safety

awareness campaigns, organized workshop on small- scale exporter /importer business

development and peace building for the community representatives and others

stakeholder. Carried out series of joint verification visits and engagements with the

encroacher on the proposed seaport site, the environmental impacts, pollution, congestion

around the seaport, security issues.

The environmental management priority has a focused on compliance and particular

emphasis on areas prone to third party interference. Environmental commitment to sound

environment management practice and processes that will secure the government

regulatory agency, the directorates of port authority for environmental evaluation studies

that will witness heightened operation activities for freight forwarding, logistics

warehousing, export / import and export processing zone development, management,

expansion and industrial incensement for employment, internal revenue e.t.c. on seaport

business expanding hub. The continuous improvement in the environment monitoring

and management performance to achieve key performance indicators.

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Owoputi, A. E., & Owoputi, O. O. (2022). Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of Sustainability. Archives of Business Research, 10(8). 62-

73.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/abr.108.11550

Operations Issues

The process of economic development was summarized in Rostow’s seven stages of

economic development besides science and technology, labour and capital, the natural

resource endowment of nations was considered important in determining there trajectory

of development . Hence the concept of the comparative advantage of nations which was

the backwardness of Africa’s inability to manage, utilize science and technology to facilitate

and accelerate it seaport economic development process. Despite the availability of the

requisite knowledge management skills and technology within nations, the role of

professional manpower remains wide and apparently unbridgeable technics efforts.

A fact of our contemporary world phenomenon of globalization which define the growing

economic interdependent increasing volume and variety of cross-border / export / import

transaction in goods and services and at the same time shows the disparities and

inequalities in management b skills, economic opportunities , Total quality management

technics are needed in seaport operation for sustainable factors drive, that will increase

continence a higher capacity for prosperity and wealth creation. Hence a seaport operation

ability to participate competitively and successfully in world trade is critical to the wealth

creation potentials that will enable sustainability. The ability to handle vessels, ships and

cargo for import / export will lead to increase production through quality management

skilled manpower at the seaport for sustainable.

The political economic of contemporary of management issues in Nigeria Seaport

Despite the massive resource endowments of our seaport, an inexplicable fact of life in

Nigeria is the high levels of Unemployment and the poor management skill manpower,

Corruption at all levels and the Quality of technology application.

There is need for training of the young generation to develop cross – disciplinary skills

required in today’s world professional development seaport building for security, and long

reward economic infrastructure technologies for deep seaport activities usage and

sustainability.

Seaports provide opportunity for commuting of goods and people from one area of the

seaport to another area within the location.

Telecommunication skill and equipment at various areas of the seaport for information

circulation, security, safety, movement of cargo and passengers.

Large seaport offer particularly attractive locations for industries and distribution-

intensive enterprises.

The focuses on reliable, short – transit container services to complete just-in-time (J I T )

purchase orders.

Seaport as a determining causal links between public investments and specific commercial

activities and investments is difficult and at times speculative.

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Seaport should be managed to achieve optimal Utilization of capital investments in port

assets are affected by risk, competition for land and capital or other factors in the

competitive business environment.

Subsidies and government provided incentives, distort the allocation of resources for

seaport may result in over-or underinvestment.

The provision of seaport services entails large fixed costs and low marginal costs. And

a relatively large minimum initial capacity of basic infrastructure is required for technical

reasons.

Seaport initial infrastructure is frequently indivisible and as an increase capacity been

realized in quantum chunks.

Both seaport construction and seaport expansion require large amounts of capital. Over

the last Forty years for example, successive Nigeria government ran deficit budgets even

during the times when world oil prices enforced massive inflow of financial resources.

Over the same period no credible effort was made to developed professionality in

different industries. This undermined skilled competition in economic transactions that

aborted the will for good managerial skill development for seaport entrepreneurship and

innovation. The enhanced corruption as a way of life Corruption has a direct effect on

business management and investment. It makes participation in corrupt practices more

lucrative forms of business. It fosters non-productive pursuits such as brokering contracts,

in contrary to cost effectiveness and efficiency management.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A workable government policy for modal shift of freight to coastal waterways is required.

The policy must be aimed at removing the hurdles that impede the growth of coastal

shipping and n must necessarily take into account the impact of external costs of transport

modes, ships, vessels. For any seaport to succeed and be sustainable it should consider

the following:-

Sustainable partnership should be initiates and build on trust and confidence as well as

to strengthened partnership between it and various global seaport, international

manufacturing, export organization, import services outlets, logistics and freight forwarding

which are aid – users of the seaport. These will contribute to the peaceful operation,

environment growth , expansion, other activities , by giving the cordial relationship with

shareholders. This will enable the organization to achieve it business goals and

sustainability aspirations.

Human-power :- Putting the communities into the forum of participation and

representation of government agencies and other stakeholders. Investors who have

investment of capital in the organization. Employees who are both skilled and unskilled

labour, industry peers in the same operation of services. Government regulatory agencies,

insurance agencies, the NGO”s the business partners like importer, exporter. Freight

forwarder, logistics transporter and warehouse management agents. All buyers of seaport

services and the media houses with a great professional consultant, The training and re- training of staffs,

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Owoputi, A. E., & Owoputi, O. O. (2022). Seaport Building, Management and the Challenges of Sustainability. Archives of Business Research, 10(8). 62-

73.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/abr.108.11550

MONITORING THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SEAPORTS

Ports constitute an important economic activity in coastal areas. The higher the

throughput of goods and passengers year – on year, the more infrastructure, provisions

and associated services are required. These will bring varying degrees of benefit or

disadvantage to the local and regional economy and to the environment. Ports are also

important for the support of economic activities in the hinter- land since they act as a

crucial connection between sea and land transport.

As a supplier of jobs, ports do not only serve an economic but also a social function.

Since cargo now a days is loaded and unloaded mechanically, the effects of changes in

the amount of goods handled on local employment or the demand for port services is

difficult to ascertain.

• Number of incoming and outgoing passengers per port

• Proportion of goods carried cross – channel by rail and by truck.

• Proportion of goods carried by inland waterways short sea routes.

• Volume of goods handled per port terminals

• Direct added value of ports