Port Congestion or Port Dysfunction?

Abstract

The expansion of world trade and rate of growth of industrialised countries from 1945 has been reduced in the last few years, first with the upsurge in oil prices in 1974 and then with the events of the so-called oil crisis. Shipping appeared to be severely hit, with fleets laid up, even if only temporarily. However, traffic congestion in ports did not disappear. Tremendous waiting times and stockpiling occurred in many new ports in developing countries, and at the same time, delays, excess costs and dysfunctions persisted in many old ports in industrialised countries with a long maritime tradition, such as Italy, France and Great Britain.