New Technologies in Small and Medium-sized Ports: Its Impacts on the Future of Work

Abstract

The port industry, because of its complex nature -which involves an extended number of actors/stakeholders- is often slower than most others when it comes to adopting emergent technologies to expedite the shipping process. There is no one clear definition of an automated (or, “smart”) port. However, it is true that the current level of automation in the port sector is at relatively early stages, with 97% of the world container port terminals still not “sufficiently” automated. The share of containers that are processed via a fully automated path is just 1%, while semi-automated terminals are about 2%. In any case, as in many large-sized ports around the world that are already under the influence of automation, a similar impact could soon be felt in middle and small-sized ports in certain countries around the world.

It is a rather self-explanatory fact that increasing the level of automation and digitalisation can also introduce significant changes in port business: from loading and unloading operations, to design infrastructure development and maintenance. Furthermore, it can transform traditional port activities, including the types of jobs needed to effectively fulfill these activities. An examination of the global port sector indicates that the implementation of automation has been increasing to a certain degree when taking into account several drivers. This paper will examine port automation and digitalisation, and their impact on jobs relating to mid- and small-sized ports. It will investigate the concept of automation and digitalisation in ports and will identify the factors driving the respective development; then, it will perform a brief evaluation concerning the impacts on port workers.

Key words: SMPs, New technologies, Impacts, Future of work