Estimation of Cost of Delays on Vessel Operations in Container Terminals of Apapa Seaports

Abstract

The study estimated cost of delays on vessel operations in container terminals of Apapa seaports. It considered secondary sources of annual data from 2007-2022. Queue model was used to answer the research questions. The study finds that the vessel operation in Apapa port experience mean delays of 4.4 days. The port users experience mean economy loss of USD 12412.11 per annum due to delays in vessel operations in container terminals and incurred mean cost of 1983737 per annum. It finds that Apapa port container terminal has mean vessel turnaround time of 6.36 days and mean vessel arrival rate of 219 vessels per annum. The mean ship traffic of 1389 vessels from 2007 to 2022 and the mean ship service rate of approximately 11 vessels/berth. Apapa port has only 20 berths which implies that the utilization coefficient of the system is not satisfied at optimal level. Apapa port ship queuing cost is $16668*LOA and cost of idle berth of $32*LOA, implying that out of 20 berths in Apapa port approximately 12 berths (61.2%) were working and fully utilized while 8 berths (38.8%) were more or less not working.