The Bulk Load Unload (BLU) Manual requires, among other things, that ship and terminal management agree a load/unload plan, with timings, prior to commencing cargo operations.

Given the ever-present demand to increase port/terminal cargo throughput, particularly but not exclusively the handling of containers, time pressure has been cited as a causal factor for incidents involving a wider range of ship types. These include Ro-Ro loss of stability and loss of containers overboard following a failure to stow/secure in compliance with IMO standards.

This indicates there is not sufficient time to ensure cargo operations can be safely undertaken, and/or the that the ship is seaworthy prior to port departure.

Due to limitations on storage, tugs, pilots, channel tidal and navigation limits etc., any delay to a ship’s departure can rapidly escalate, causing potentially critical disruption to the ‘just in time’ supply chains that characterise logistics.

In the context of operations, therefore, demurrage may become a target to reduce which, within limits, is deemed acceptable. Beyond these limits, ships may be pressured to berth in marginal weather or directed to reduce their time on berth. In short, the 'design for operation' philosophy that informs port design is flawed as it is 'operating to design' with margins reducing over time.  Much of the time pressure related to port operations may, consequently, be viewed as a means to the end of minimizing demurrage and/or CAPEX. In practice, this increased pressure/workload principally impacts ships’ crews.  It shapes their behaviour and decision-making, crowding out essential safety-related tasks established in regulation and/or best practice, such as completion of a ship-shore checklist and other pre-arrival information exchange between ship and port/terminal staff. This may also impact the safety of shore-based personnel who board the ship in port.

Port stakeholders commonly presume that ships’ staff have access to all information necessary to plan the port call. However, the information in pilot books and port entry guides or other sources of public domain information may often be out of date or limited. Nonetheless, a ship is expected to operate at peak efficiency throughout the port call with little regard from the port authorities as to how this can be achieved without the most basic and essential information. Without access to the relevant information, there is potential for a lack of understanding of local culture and practice on both sides. This is an often-overlooked aspect of safety in port operations.