Dynamic changes in port logistics caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Beškovnik, Bojan (author), Zanne, Marina (author), Golnar, Marko (author)

This study addresses the highly topical issue of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on port logistics. The impacts are reflected in all three pillars of sustainable operations and development that port logistics should pursue. The economic impact is strong and is reflected in the extremely high transport prices, the accessibility of transport, the lengthening of the supply chain, and the reduced liquidity of companies. The social aspect is very important regarding working conditions and workers’ roles in ports and logistics service providers (LSPs). The dynamic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic also have an impact on the environmental aspect. As supply chains are vulnerable, more attention is paid to the components of time, price, and reliability than greener transportation. This study highlights changes in port logistics due to the COVID-19 pandemic in logistics companies in the northern Adriatic region and covers a specific gap in the understanding of the sustainable adaptations of LSPs in their operations within port logistics. The results enrich the scientific field regarding LSPs to work processes, the digitalization of business processes, and the organization of logistics chains. The results can be used to develop new sustainable business models for port logistics and port governance, as some researchers have already called for because port logistics too often pursue the economic goals of the fastest and cheapest logistics process. At the same time, social and environmental aspects are somewhat neglected. The changes are particularly pronounced in critical situations, such as those typical of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted as part of the project about green port development with external research funding.

• Language: English
• Keywords: port logistics, COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable development, maritime transport, ports
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FPP - Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 10, art. 1473
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-154109
• UDC: 656.6.005.51:578.834
• ISSN on article: 2077-1312
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse10101473
• COBISS.SI-ID: 126958595
• Publication date in RUL: 25.01.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of marine science and engineering
• Shortened title: J. mar. sci. eng.
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2077-1312
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523219993

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: pomorski promet, pristaniška logistika, pandemije, COVID-19

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: L7-1847
• Name: Razvoj trajnostnega modela rasti "zelenega pristanišča"