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What is Port Management?

Jessica F. Black
Jessica F. Black

Port management is a necessary position required to keep ports organized, supervised, and functioning. There are numerous types of business interactions that occur at active ports, which usually requires a team of port employees to ensure that all transactions run smoothly. Ports often house cargo, ships, rental spaces, warehouses, and loading docks. There various functions of port management include overseeing all commercial and technical components of the shipping industry. This business is highly competitive, and the number of employees often depends on the location, size, and accessibility of the port.

Some of the duties in port management may include cooperating with other ports, coordinating deliveries with ships, overseeing port development, advertising and promoting the port, and enforcing security and environmental protection initiatives. Most ports have technological data systems, which are often shared with neighboring inlets. Shipping and port management is a career choice that often requires a degree in related studies. Coursework may include quantitative methods and market analysis, maritime logistics, port planning and pricing, and commercial law.

A port manager may be tasked with contracting the services of local tugboat businesses for use in harbor operations.
A port manager may be tasked with contracting the services of local tugboat businesses for use in harbor operations.

Most countries have a port management agreement handbook that includes policies, laws, and regulations that each port must agree to follow. Property management is a large portion of the job, which includes standards and responsibilities, security and insurance, valuation of aquatic land, and classifications of use. Port management agreements usually span over a 20-30 year period depending on the jurisdiction, and are subject to changes and renewal. Managers must ensure that there are no financial obligations tied to the local jurisdiction, and all remediations are dealt with directly by the port.

Large cargo ships must be scheduled for loading and unloading in port.
Large cargo ships must be scheduled for loading and unloading in port.

Managers are often hired by both private and public port authorities, and the general tasks typically include negotiating contracts, managing budgets, recruiting and training staff, and financial planning. There are port manager certification programs that can benefit employees and are usually offered at local port authorities. Specific qualifications are usually required for this type of program. Once in the program there are several seminars that must be attended, which may include harbors, navigation, environment, public relations, security, and maritime economic development.

Tugboats are often used to assist ships as they come into port.
Tugboats are often used to assist ships as they come into port.

Additional courses in port leasing may be helpful because port managers are often responsible for renting property to third parties, and there are legal intricacies that managers must be fully aware of. Insurance and security requirements of leases are extremely important, and violations generally result in termination of the lease, which is then transferred automatically back to the local government.

Discussion Comments

backdraft

I had a buddy that worked a a port in the Philippines for a while in the 70s. He had some absolutely crazy stories from his time over there. It sounds like they were in need of a at least a couple of managers more than they had.

He told stories about huge shipments being lost, smuggling and corruption going on everywhere, accidents and dangerous facilities and employees who did not have nearly enough training.

The things was that he loved it. He say it was the best time of his life. He almost got killed a couple of times, but I guess that was exciting for him. To each their own.

Ivan83

I would imagine that it takes a whole team of managers to keep some of the largest ports operating smoothly. Anyone who has lived or worked around a port knows how much activity goes on at these places. There are hundreds of ships, thousands of shipping containers, all sorts of health and safety concerns plus the ever present threat of bad weather.

Port managers likely need a huge set of skills as well as a big stick. There has to be disciple and a respect for the rules and regulations if things are going to work smoothly. You can't be a cream puff and be a good manager in a situation like this. I'm glad that someone does this job but I'm also glad its not me.

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    • A port manager may be tasked with contracting the services of local tugboat businesses for use in harbor operations.
      By: keller
      A port manager may be tasked with contracting the services of local tugboat businesses for use in harbor operations.
    • Large cargo ships must be scheduled for loading and unloading in port.
      By: cvalle
      Large cargo ships must be scheduled for loading and unloading in port.
    • Tugboats are often used to assist ships as they come into port.
      By: Dmitry Vereshchagin
      Tugboats are often used to assist ships as they come into port.
    • Port management may involve positioning and moving barges and ships within slips and other cargo offloading points.
      By: Riccardo Arata
      Port management may involve positioning and moving barges and ships within slips and other cargo offloading points.