Date of Award
2013
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Science in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
Shipping & Port Management
Campus
Malmö, Sweden
Country
Iraq
First Advisor
Moon, Daniel S.H.
Abstract
The dissertation is a study of the importance of cost/time of a ship related to the problems and constraints in port facilities and the quality of services that are hampering Umm Qasr Port (‘UQP’) to be a competitive and efficient port. It develops and asks the composite research question: “Can UQP improve its competitiveness by modifications to its facilities, and if so, which modifications are necessary?” Under the Port User Cost concept it analyses the turnaround time of vessels in the port as the most important element concerning the users of the port. Therefore, subsequent analysis of outcomes aims to solve the problems which influence and hinder the competitive level of UQP. The reasons behind this topic are results of the competition of neighbouring ports in the same region in attracting cargo owners and shipping lines to transport their cargo over land to Iraq as a way to increase the Iraqi economy and projects relating to the reconstruction of infra- and superstructures of the country after several wars. Analytical techniques will be applied to port operations involving the port facilities, and quality of services. It will also refer to the geographical location in connection with hinterlands of neighbouring port countries, for example Kuwait, Syria, Turkey and Jordan to measure UQP’s efficiency to identify the problems that need to be solved in order to place UQP in line with increasing Iraqi cargo volume, and development in the maritime sector in Iraq’s neighbouring countries. Considering the damage of years of wars in Iraq followed by huge budgets for several projects to rehabilitate the country, the need of Iraqi ports, in particular Umm Qasr Port, is to be more effective and efficient in receiving vessels with attractive services, with fewer delays and lower costs by improving UQP’s competitiveness and performance in terms of service time.