The Contribution of the Dry Port Concept to the Extension of Port Life Cycles

Abstract

Despite the temporary respite afforded by worldwide recession, limitations on port capacity still plague the container handling industry. At the same time, competitive pressures continue to mount on container ports. In recent years, the dry port concept has increasingly been applied, not only as a vehicle for overcoming capacity problems, but also as a deliberate attempt at expanding or reinforcing the hinterlands of container ports. The objective of this paper is to apply the Product Life Cycle to ports and to relate dry port development to the prolongation of the growth and/or maturity phases of a Port’s Life Cycle. In doing so, the dry port concept is explained by reference to both the literature and industry examples. The Product Life Cycle is then related specifically to container port development, and the prospect of dry ports exerting a positive impact on the Product Life Cycle of container ports is evaluated. The paper concludes by identifying the circumstances which are likely to characterize a successful implementation of the dry port concept, such that the desired effect of prolonging a port’s growth and/or maturity phases is achieved.