THE PIANC Asia Pacific Conference in Sydney this past week featured insights into challenges across the global ports landscape, with a focus on connecting Asia Pacific ports in a changing world.
There were more than 300 delegates from 21 countries at this year’s event, representing ports, harbour and recreational boating. The conference kicked off on Wednesday (28 August) and wrapped up on Friday.
The changing role of ports
In her opening keynote address, NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas spoke of the changing role of ports in the supply chain and the importance of investment in landside infrastructure.
“Ports are a key node in a broader supply chain and landside connections to the port have a significant bearing on port efficiency and capacity. Our role no longer stops at the port gate,” she said.
“So, we are investing in the broader supply chain. It is why we recently invested $190-million along with Patrick Terminals to build the state-of-the-art Sydney AutoStrad Botany Rail Expansion at Port Botany.”
Ms Calfas also highlighted the role of ports in the global energy transition. As the transition continues, she said, industry can expect a reduction in fossil fuel trades and the emergence of new trades to support alternative energy technologies.
“This means we need to consider how we use port land and infrastructure to support this trend and explore opportunities to diversify the trades we handle, like our plans for an offshore wind port facility at Port Kembla.”
Sessions throughout the conference explored everything from the hydrogen economy and automation to whale-strike risk-screening and breakwater asset management.
Regional support
The last item on the formal agenda – but certainly not the least – was a panel discussion on challenges and opportunities for ports in a changing world.
Ports Australia CEO Mike Gallacher facilitated the panel, which comprised Svitzer Australia managing director Videlina Georgieva, PIANC Indonesia secretary general Velly Asvaliantina and Solomon Islands Ports Authority CEO Eranda Kotewala.
Mr Gallacher spoke about the importance of reaching out to Pacific counterparts to offer assistance and share knowledge so that even small ports can play a part in tackling global challenges.
“It’s not just about the commercial opportunities, but about supporting each other and addressing global issues together and offering support where we can,” Mr Gallacher said.
“It’s about building that cooperative relationship and it’s great to see the work of PIANC in facilitating that.”
Mike also announced that Ports Australia is soon to release a report titled State of Trade which will offer national statistics on the contribution of ports to the workforce and economy. The report is due to launch on 9 September.
Pacific perspectives
Mr Kotewala shared the Pacific perspective on climate change and resilience, and the resulting infrastructure challenges that have emerged. He described some of the unique challenges his region faces in regard to extreme wind conditions.
“One of the greatest challenges we face in the Pacific region is climate change. We are looking at redesigning some of our infrastructure, but a challenge is how we get it done,” he said.
He noted that Pacific nations faced the brunt of climate change impacts, despite the region only contributing less than 0.03% of emissions globally.
The impact of climate change manifests in multiple areas including criticality of maintaining the infrastructure as well as the impact on port productivity.
High wind speeds and swells affected port costs, and productivity was impacted noting most terminal operations were supported by shipboard cranes.
And Ms Asvaliantina outlined the scale of infrastructure and challenges faced in Indonesia, with the incredible statistic that, as a nation of many islands, more 600 ports are serviced in the country (with 10 primary ports serving as hubs).
She said some of the nation’s ports are still operating on old infrastructure and highlighted technological disruption as a constraint.
Indonesia’s proximity to major global ports in the region in Malaysia and Singapore was also noted as challenging.
A maritime nation and its challenges
The session concluded with a presentation from Ms Georgieva of Svitzer Australia. She focused four key themes, the first of which was Australia’s position as a global trading nation and its reliance on maritime.
Secondly, she highlighted the international context Australia’s ports operate in and the need to stay focused on opportunities for productivity through innovation.
Thirdly, she discussed the workforce shortage challenges in maritime and how they can be resolved; and the need to recast assumptions about diversity, as it is a business sustainability issue.
And finally, decarbonisation. Ms Georgieva said that, without movement on biofuel availability and pricing, the sector cannot contribute to Australia’s decarbonisation goals.
