Seaport Terminals Risks Prioritization Using a Structural Modeling-Based Approach: A Real Case Study

Abstract

Port risk management (PRM) during port operations is a current problem that can negatively affect the environment, people, and economic issues. In the literature, there is an enormous amount of research related to supply chain risk management (SCRM) in various areas and with various objectives. However, PRM has not received the same degree of attention. In fact, port terminals are crucial links in most supply chain networks and an important pillar of international trade. Therefore, for better risk mitigation efficiency, a risk assessment and prioritization step are vital. Recently in the literature, researchers have applied prospective methods such as structural analysis methods to risk prioritization in SCRM. The aim of this research is to prioritize various man-made risk variables in PRM using a qualitative structural modeling-based approach, specifically, the MICMAC method (referring to its French acronym: Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement). An empirical study was conducted to assesses and prioritize risk variables of the seaport terminals of Sfax (Tunisia). The main contributions of the empirical research are twofold. First, to prioritize the key risk variables to define the most critical ones that require immediate intervention. Second, to analyze the structure of the influences between all identified risk variables. The results for the port terminals of Sfax show that the highest-priority risk variables are the manual handling (Ph3), disregard for safety aspects (Ph4), unsafe storage of goods (Inc1), absence of a prevention system and a rescue organization (Inc2), neglect of the regulatory aspects of handling equipment (M1), ignorance of good handling practices during the operation of loading and unloading (Cho2), and inadequate lifting accessories (Cho3). These risk variables must be the subject of urgent risk reduction strategies.

Spatial Analysis and Risk Evaluation for Port Crisis Management Using Integrated Soft Computing and GIS-Based Models: A Case Study of Jazan Port, Saudi Arabia

“…The highest weights are assigned to factors such as 'natural disasters' and industrial accidents, indicating their significant impact on port safety and operational continuity. This prioritization aligns with previous studies that emphasize the vulnerability of ports to extreme weather events and human-induced hazards [59][60][61][62]. While novel hybrid prediction models have been presented in recent scientific research [63], the proposed model in this study produced reliable results.…”

Exploring the Failure Mechanism of Container Port Logistics System Based on Multi-Factor Coupling

“…For example, Fan et al [25] concluded that human factors are the main cause of maritime accidents; Budiyanto et al [17] believed that human factors, especially due to human work negligence in operating vehicle equipment, are one of the most important factors causing accidents in terminal container operations; Zhang et al [28] found that human factors are the primary influencing factors in port ship pilotage accidents, and discussed their impact on accident risks by studying the coupling effects between the human organizational factors and system factors. Furthermore, port workers' ability to apply new technologies, work operations, and safety awareness is closely related to professional training and safety education, indicating that management variables are also a major source of dangerous human behavior [27,29,30]. Next, facilities and equipment are critical materials for ensuring the smooth operation of ports.…”

“…Moreover, the port management organization system is also a crucial component of the port logistics system. It has been suggested that proper organizational management is a significant element in maintaining the order of the port and guaranteeing the continuity of the system due to the complex environment of the port system and the closely related activities of each link; otherwise, it will cause problems such as congestion and even collision and conflict [4,10,30].…”