A life cycle cost analysis of different shore power incentive policies on both shore and ship sides based on system dynamics and a Chinese port case.

Shore power (SP) is widely recognized as an efficient strategy for reducing air pollution in port areas. Unfortunately, the adoption of SP has been relatively low, resulting in limited emission reductions and financial losses. To address these challenges, this paper focuses on enhancing the utilization rate of SP, which is meaningful for emission control and environmental protection. This paper combines system dynamics with a study of the benefits of SP, which bridges the research gap to some extent. We propose a system dynamics model that assesses the impact of various incentive policies on the economic and environmental benefits of SP. The model considers the life cycle cost and comprises four subsystems. By conducting a case study on Nansha Port, we find that price subsidies are more effective than construction subsidies in overcoming economic barriers. Furthermore, we observe that the overall economic benefits only increase when the electricity price decreases. This is because lowering the electricity price enhances the profitability of ships without negatively affecting port revenue. Additionally, it is the proportion of the electricity price and service price that determines the overall economic benefits, rather than the SP price itself. Hence, it is recommended to provide preferential subsidies for the electricity price.

Impact of COVID-19 epidemic on port operations: Evidence from Asian ports.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the shipping industry while the extent of the impact is still not fully understood. To quantitatively investigate the relationship between pandemic-related factors and port operations, a panel regression analysis is conducted using data from three important Asian ports, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Daily data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS), Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) database, and port authorities from January 2020 to December 2021 are utilized. Local newly confirmed cases of ports tend to negatively impact cargo throughput, while worldwide newly confirmed cases outside of ports tend to positively impact cargo throughput. Overall, the policy implications are that ports with better control of COVID-19 reap the benefits of more cargo throughput. In addition, countermeasures against COVID-19 and other epidemics should be designed deliberately to minimize the side-effect on port operations and maritime transportation.