Infrastructure Weaknesses at Bushehr Port Must Be Addressed as Giant Ships Await

Bushehr – Limits on port infrastructure and the depth of Bushehr Port's access channel have made the need to accept wide-bodied ships and increase cargo handling capacity a key demand for developing the province's maritime trade.

Ambassador Arjan of the Group of Provinces: As one of the old and important ports of the country, Bushehr port has played a significant role in trade exchanges and supply of goods needed by the province and surrounding areas over the past years, but the structural changes in the shipping industry, the increase in the capacity of commercial ships and the competition of regional ports have revealed the necessity of reviewing the operational capacities of this port more than in the past.

Today, in the marine transportation network, having a wharf and a port area alone is not enough for competitiveness. The depth of the entrance channel, the length and capacity of the docks, the power of unloading and loading equipment, the extent of warehouses and docks, the speed of customs procedures and the quality of the connection of the port to the land transportation network are a set of determining factors in attracting shipping lines and increasing the share of a port in regional trade.

In such a situation, upgrading the infrastructure of Bushehr port and providing the possibility of berthing of wide-bodied ships, especially ships with a capacity of more than 30,000 tons, can become one of the main axes of economic development of the province; The realization of which, in addition to investing in physical infrastructure, requires the modernization of equipment and the use of new technologies in the management of port operations.

bigger ships; The need to overcome current limitations

In a conversation with Mehr reporter, a port affairs expert said, referring to the limitations of Bushehr's port infrastructure, that the development of maritime trade in the province requires upgrading the operational capacities of the port and providing the necessary conditions for the entry, mooring, unloading and loading of wide-bodied ships.

Mustafa Ghasemi added: In a situation where an important part of world trade is carried out through sea transportation, ports that are able to accept larger ships and move a larger volume of goods have a higher competitive advantage. Therefore, the limitation in the depth of the access channel and the capacity of the port equipment can affect the utilization of the commercial capacities of a region.

Emphasizing the necessity of developing the infrastructure of Bushehr port, this expert stated: deepening the entrance channel, upgrading the capacity of the wharves, providing new unloading and loading equipment, and developing operational areas should be followed as a coordinated set; Because increasing the depth of the channel, regardless of the capacity of berths and equipment, alone cannot meet all the needs of a modern port.

He continued: The arrival of larger ships, if other technical and operational requirements are met, can enable the transfer of more cargoes in each trip and, as a result, reduce the number of trips required to transfer a certain amount of goods. This issue is of economic importance, especially in the trade of basic goods, industrial raw materials and bulk cargo.

According to this expert, the development of Bushehr port should be based on an accurate assessment of the type of target goods, the needs of the goods owners, the capacity of commercial markets and the future trends of shipping, so that the investments made lead to a real increase in operational capacity and the attraction of economic activities.

channel deepening; The main development ring of Bushehr port

One of the most important infrastructural projects proposed to improve the position of Bushehr port is the deepening of the access channel of this port with the aim of providing the possibility of accepting ships up to 50 thousand tons; A plan that, if implemented and complete other required infrastructure, can increase the operational capacity of the port and expand the range of its commercial activities.

Referring to the importance of this project, the advisor to the CEO of Ports and Maritime Organization in maritime affairs said: Deepening the access channel of Bushehr port to accept ships of up to 50,000 tons is one of the most important infrastructure projects needed to improve the position of this port in the maritime trade of the country.

Siavash Arjamandzadeh added: The implementation of the Bushehr port development plan in the early 80s was one of the milestones in the development of port infrastructure in the province. In the framework of that plan, the depth of the access channel was increased to 11 meters, and with the acquisition of land, the ground for the creation of a new container terminal was provided. Measures that increased the operational capacity and competitiveness of the port.

Arjamandzadeh also stated about the latest status of Bushehr port access channel deepening project: The project studies have been completed and the required permits have been received. This project is in the final stage to obtain a license to hold a tender, but the follow-ups related to obtaining the final license and the start of executive operations have been affected by unforeseen conditions and financial limitations.

This situation shows that the infrastructure development of Bushehr port is not only limited to defining the project and conducting studies, but going through the administrative stages, providing financial resources and starting the implementation operations are the decisive links in turning the development plans into the real capacity of the port.

From this point of view, expediting the determination of the final assignment of the channel deepening project, financing and developing a specific schedule for implementation can be one of the most important priorities for the development of Bushehr port.

Port development is not achieved only by increasing the depth of the channel

The deepening of the access channel is an important condition for accepting larger ships, but the sustainable development of the port requires a set of complementary measures. In addition to having a suitable inlet on the access route, wide-bodied ships need appropriate berths, unloading and loading equipment with sufficient capacity and necessary facilities for safe and fast management of port operations.

On the other hand, increasing the capacity of receiving ships without the development of cargo storage areas and docks may lead to an increase in the density of cargoes and prolonging the time the goods stay in the port. Therefore, the development of Bushehr port should be designed in such a way that all the stages of ship entry, docking, unloading, storage, performing customs formalities and transferring the goods to the final destination are done with proper coordination and speed.

In this framework, the development of Nagin port complex and the creation of new terminals and operational areas can complement the channel deepening plan. Increasing the capacity of warehouses, equipping wharves, and improving storage and transportation facilities should also be followed according to the type of target cargo and the forecast of maritime trade growth.

Also, the provision of modern port equipment, from cranes and mechanized cargo handling systems to operation control and monitoring equipment, can play an effective role in increasing the speed of loading and unloading and reducing the stopping time of ships.

Of course, the selection of equipment should be based on the type of goods, the characteristics of vessels, the capacity of berths and economic studies. The application of advanced technologies will be effective when it is coordinated with the physical development plan of the port and the actual needs of the cargo owners.

new technologies; Necessity of intelligent management of port operations

Another requirement to improve the position of Bushehr port is the wider use of new technologies and information systems in operations management. In today's ports, the speed of moving goods is not only dependent on the power of mechanical equipment, but the quality of information exchange between the port organization, customs, transport companies, owners of goods and other related devices is also important.

The deputy of port and economic affairs of the Ports and Maritime Organization, emphasizing the role of operational and information systems in port management, has stated that by providing accurate data, these systems provide a basis for better decision-making and increase the efficiency of port activities.

Adel Drees added: Effective use of the operational systems of Bushehr port can help improve the performance of trade-related committees, facilitate port processes and accelerate the clearance of essential goods.

For a port that seeks to increase its capacity to accommodate larger ships, the development of this digital infrastructure is doubly important. Accurate planning of the time of arrival and docking of vessels, management of unloading and loading, inventory control, reduction of equipment delays and coordination between responsible agencies are among the areas that can be improved through integrated systems.

In addition to these cases, the development of safety monitoring systems, the strengthening of radio communications of vessels, and the use of accurate tools to manage sea traffic are also effective in increasing the safety and efficiency of port operations.

On the other hand, coordination between the executive bodies related to the trade and transportation chain, from customs to the institutions responsible for transporting goods, can reduce the time of carrying out formalities and transferring cargoes. In fact, the advantage of a modern port is not limited only to the speed of unloading the ship, but also to its ability to quickly, reliably and cheaply transfer goods from the sea to the consumer market or production centers.

Bushehr's economic opportunity in the competition of regional ports

In order to strengthen its position in maritime trade, Bushehr port, in addition to the development of physical infrastructure, should also benefit more from the geographical and economic capacities of the province. Proximity to the centers of production and consumption, connection with the industries of the province and surrounding areas, and the possibility of playing a role in the transfer of goods needed by various economic sectors are among the capacities that can be strengthened with the development of the port.

In the meantime, increasing the ability to accept larger ships can provide the basis for attracting larger cargoes and increasing the attractiveness of the port for cargo owners and shipping companies; Of course, the realization of this goal depends on the existence of sufficient commercial demand, competitive costs, reliable services and proper access to the ground transportation network.

On the other hand, the development of port activities can lead to the creation of direct and indirect job opportunities in the fields of transportation, warehousing, technical services, marine repairs, commerce and logistics. Increasing economic activity in the port can also provide the basis for the expansion of related services and the formation of new businesses.

However, in order to accurately assess the economic benefits of the channel deepening and terminal development project, it is necessary to expertly examine the investment costs, the potential demand, the capacity to absorb goods and the effects of the project on port revenues. Determining clear indicators to increase unloading and loading tonnage, reduce the stopping time of ships and improve the efficiency of equipment can also provide the possibility to evaluate the results of the plan.