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The International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA): Background, objectives and special issue
ARTICLE IN PRESS Transport Policy 16 (2009) 213–214
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Transport Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tranpol
The International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA): Background, objectives and special issue Adolf K.Y. Ng , Xiaowen Fu Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
a r t i c l e in fo
abstract
Available online 31 August 2009
This paper introduces the international conference on transportation and logistics - The International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA), including its background and core objectives. A brief introduction on the contents of this special issue is also given.. & 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: IFSPA Conference Transportation and logistics
1. IFSPA: background and objectives Traditionally, aviation, logistics and maritime industries are separate activities. Nowadays, along with the inevitable trend of globalization, they have evolved as an integrated service profession, and indeed they have become the artery of global economic development. Such a change has triggered a need, and thus the idea, of an international conference inviting basic, applied and case study research in the fields of aviation, logistics and maritime policy and management. Set against this background, the International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA) was established by the C.Y. Tung International Centre for Maritime Studies, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China. The roots of IFSPA can be dated back to 2006, initially as a workshop bringing together researchers from aviation, logistics and maritime studies, with the objective to nurture crossfertilization within fields of transportation and logistics, as well as to publish and promote high-quality research papers. Since then, it has made good progress and had experienced a ‘great leap forward’ in 2008. Themed Trade-Based Global Supply Chains and Transport Logistics Hubs: Trends and Future Development, IFSPA 2008 was successfully held on 25–28 May 2008, attracting over 200 participants from 15 countries and territories, including government officials and industrial practitioners, as well as eminent scholars, both at home and abroad. In addition, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Hong Kong International Airport, with the support from the Hong Kong Airport Authority, the conference had dedicated a special session investigating ways
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: [email protected], k/[email protected] (A.K.Y. Ng). 0967-070X/$ - see front matter & 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2009.08.005
to encourage sustainable and harmonious development of the aviation industries in China and Hong Kong. To ensure the conference’s quality and reputation, all papers accepted to IFSPA 2008 had undergone vigorous peer review process from internationally recognized academic scholars within transportation and/or logistics fields (IFSPA, 2008). The important end products of IFSPA 2008 included the publications of its conference proceedings entitled Proceedings of IFSPA 2008 (ISBN: 978-962-367-632-8) (Liu et al., 2008), as well as this special issue.
2. The special issue This special issue serves as the ‘crystal’ of IFSPA 2008, consisting of selected research papers from more than 70 articles submitted to the conference. The final list of papers in this special issue also reflects the objectives of IFSPA—to nurture crossfertilization within the fields of transportation and logistics, as well as the publication and promotion of high-quality papers representing different aspects within the indicated fields. As illustrated later, these papers investigate a number of challenging topics (incl. economics, operational research, personnel development, policies, urban and regional development) within various industries (aviation, logistics and maritime) in both developed and developing countries and regions (incl. Asia, Australia, Europe and North America). All papers shortlisted for this special issue underwent further peer reviews until all the remaining articles received good comments from reviewers before being accepted and finally endorsed by the Editorial Board of Transport Policy. In the first paper, Liu and Luk review the development of the air transport policy of China and examine the challenges in the twenty-first century. Although China has become the world’s second largest air transport system since 2006, few studies have examined the growth pattern and policy evolution of this important market. In this paper, the authors conclude that
ARTICLE IN PRESS 214
A.K.Y. Ng, X. Fu / Transport Policy 16 (2009) 213–214
reforms of China’s civil aviation have been based on national policy in market economy as well as the deregulation and liberalization of air transport. These policies, together with the rapid economic growth in the country, have led to substantial growth in China’s transport sector. To sustain the development in civil aviation, the authors argue that China should continue its reform and liberalization process. In the second paper, Tongzon and Nguyen examine the effects of China’s continued economic rise on the Australian logistics sector. There is no doubt that China’s economic rise has a significant impact on the global economy in terms of trade patterns and orientation. However, while considerable studies have investigated the impacts of China’s economic rise on international trade, few have been assessed the implications for the logistics sector. In this paper, the authors apply a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to capture the direct and indirect ramifications of trade and other economic developments associated with China’s economic rise. While, based on simulated results, the authors argue that the Australian logistics sector can potentially benefit from China’s continued economic rise, they point out that the extent of which the sector can actually gain these potential benefits highly depends on its ability to respond to these opportunities. In the third paper, Ng and Gujar investigate the influences of government policies on the efficiency and competitiveness of dry ports in India. Rapid economic growth in India demands high-quality logistical services, implying that dry ports, often characterized by inefficiency, would play pivotal roles. While the Indian government attempts to address this problem by encouraging foreign private participation, at the same time it upholds its social-democratic tradition where local operators and interests should not be edged out by external competitive pressure. Thus, it is the endeavour of this paper to investigate how the Indian government resolves such contradictory issues and provides insight on how politics and political systems can shape an industry’s competitive structure, especially in developing economies. In the fourth paper, Verhetsel and Sel explore the structure and dynamics of global maritime cities. While considerable researchers studied world cities, hitherto the role of maritime sector in this aspect had continued to be overlooked. In this paper, the authors explore the world maritime city network through applying the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) methods. Empirical evidences indicate that Bangkok/Laem Chabang, Hong Kong, Hamburg, London, New Jersey/New York, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo are the world’s leading maritime cities. Further analysis of interrelations within these cities between shipping companies and container terminals has identified Hong Kong, Hamburg and New York as the main nodes within the world maritime city network. In the fifth paper, Ng, Koo and Ho investigate the motivations and added-values of postgraduate education to the development of the maritime industry. There has been a recent growth of professional education where academic institutions increasingly offer postgraduate programmes on subjects traditionally emphasizing on apprentice-style/practical learning approach, including the maritime industry. The motivations behind such growth and
the addedvalues of these programmes to students, however, remain under-researched. Hence, through a Likert-style questionnaire survey towards students pursuing postgraduate maritime degrees, the authors argue that the changing requirements within the industries serve as the core factor in aspiring practitioners to pursue such degrees. Such programmes are also pivotal in human capital management, through preparing and retraining maritime professionals, to ensure the provision of quality services within the fast-changing maritime industries. In the sixth paper, Sys attempts to address whether container liner shipping industry is operating within an oligopolistic market. Although the shipping literature had long been occupied with this question, few authors had examined the market structure of the container liner shipping industry. Through applying the concentration ratios, results suggest that the stated industry has become more concentrated due to consolidation, and such continual process of concentration indicates that the stated industry can operate in either loose or tight oligopolistic markets, depending on different trade lanes. In the seventh paper, Zeng, Yang and Lai develop multi-craneoriented scheduling models dedicated to container terminals. ‘Multi-crane oriented’ is a scheduling method where yard trailers can be shared by different quay cranes. In this paper, two models have been developed by the authors. The first one is the intership-based sharing method, where yard trailers can be shared by quay cranes of different ships. To solve the model, a two-phase tabu search algorithm has been designed. The second one is the ship-based sharing method. In this model, yard trailers can only be shared by quay cranes of the same ship. Q-learning algorithm is designed to solve the model. Numerical tests show that multicrane-oriented models can decrease the yard trailers’ travel distance and reduce the disequilibrium of different working lines, thus improving the operational efficiencies of container terminals.
3. Epilogue The success of IFSPA 2008 is indebted to many people and organizations, not least the sponsors and partners. Sincere thanks are also given to all the speakers, guests, paper reviewers, authors, as well as the Editorial Board of Transport Policy. Without their generous support, a conference of this magnitude and this special issue may never materialize. Finally, gratitude must be given to all organizing committee members, for their indigenous efforts striving to make this conference a success. Last but not least, being the Co-Chairmen of IFSPA 2008 and the Editors of this special issue, we wish that readers would find this special issue interesting, informative and constructive to their understandings and inspiration on contemporary transportation and logistics evolution and development. References IFSPA, 2008. website: /www.lgt.polyu.edu.hk/ifspa2008S, last accessed on July 2009. Liu, J.J., Ng, K.Y.A., Fu, X. (Eds.), 2008. Proceedings of IFSPA 2008. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Transport Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tranpol
The International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA): Background, objectives and special issue Adolf K.Y. Ng , Xiaowen Fu Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
a r t i c l e in fo
abstract
Available online 31 August 2009
This paper introduces the international conference on transportation and logistics - The International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA), including its background and core objectives. A brief introduction on the contents of this special issue is also given.. & 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: IFSPA Conference Transportation and logistics
1. IFSPA: background and objectives Traditionally, aviation, logistics and maritime industries are separate activities. Nowadays, along with the inevitable trend of globalization, they have evolved as an integrated service profession, and indeed they have become the artery of global economic development. Such a change has triggered a need, and thus the idea, of an international conference inviting basic, applied and case study research in the fields of aviation, logistics and maritime policy and management. Set against this background, the International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA) was established by the C.Y. Tung International Centre for Maritime Studies, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China. The roots of IFSPA can be dated back to 2006, initially as a workshop bringing together researchers from aviation, logistics and maritime studies, with the objective to nurture crossfertilization within fields of transportation and logistics, as well as to publish and promote high-quality research papers. Since then, it has made good progress and had experienced a ‘great leap forward’ in 2008. Themed Trade-Based Global Supply Chains and Transport Logistics Hubs: Trends and Future Development, IFSPA 2008 was successfully held on 25–28 May 2008, attracting over 200 participants from 15 countries and territories, including government officials and industrial practitioners, as well as eminent scholars, both at home and abroad. In addition, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Hong Kong International Airport, with the support from the Hong Kong Airport Authority, the conference had dedicated a special session investigating ways
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: [email protected], k/[email protected] (A.K.Y. Ng). 0967-070X/$ - see front matter & 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2009.08.005
to encourage sustainable and harmonious development of the aviation industries in China and Hong Kong. To ensure the conference’s quality and reputation, all papers accepted to IFSPA 2008 had undergone vigorous peer review process from internationally recognized academic scholars within transportation and/or logistics fields (IFSPA, 2008). The important end products of IFSPA 2008 included the publications of its conference proceedings entitled Proceedings of IFSPA 2008 (ISBN: 978-962-367-632-8) (Liu et al., 2008), as well as this special issue.
2. The special issue This special issue serves as the ‘crystal’ of IFSPA 2008, consisting of selected research papers from more than 70 articles submitted to the conference. The final list of papers in this special issue also reflects the objectives of IFSPA—to nurture crossfertilization within the fields of transportation and logistics, as well as the publication and promotion of high-quality papers representing different aspects within the indicated fields. As illustrated later, these papers investigate a number of challenging topics (incl. economics, operational research, personnel development, policies, urban and regional development) within various industries (aviation, logistics and maritime) in both developed and developing countries and regions (incl. Asia, Australia, Europe and North America). All papers shortlisted for this special issue underwent further peer reviews until all the remaining articles received good comments from reviewers before being accepted and finally endorsed by the Editorial Board of Transport Policy. In the first paper, Liu and Luk review the development of the air transport policy of China and examine the challenges in the twenty-first century. Although China has become the world’s second largest air transport system since 2006, few studies have examined the growth pattern and policy evolution of this important market. In this paper, the authors conclude that
ARTICLE IN PRESS 214
A.K.Y. Ng, X. Fu / Transport Policy 16 (2009) 213–214
reforms of China’s civil aviation have been based on national policy in market economy as well as the deregulation and liberalization of air transport. These policies, together with the rapid economic growth in the country, have led to substantial growth in China’s transport sector. To sustain the development in civil aviation, the authors argue that China should continue its reform and liberalization process. In the second paper, Tongzon and Nguyen examine the effects of China’s continued economic rise on the Australian logistics sector. There is no doubt that China’s economic rise has a significant impact on the global economy in terms of trade patterns and orientation. However, while considerable studies have investigated the impacts of China’s economic rise on international trade, few have been assessed the implications for the logistics sector. In this paper, the authors apply a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to capture the direct and indirect ramifications of trade and other economic developments associated with China’s economic rise. While, based on simulated results, the authors argue that the Australian logistics sector can potentially benefit from China’s continued economic rise, they point out that the extent of which the sector can actually gain these potential benefits highly depends on its ability to respond to these opportunities. In the third paper, Ng and Gujar investigate the influences of government policies on the efficiency and competitiveness of dry ports in India. Rapid economic growth in India demands high-quality logistical services, implying that dry ports, often characterized by inefficiency, would play pivotal roles. While the Indian government attempts to address this problem by encouraging foreign private participation, at the same time it upholds its social-democratic tradition where local operators and interests should not be edged out by external competitive pressure. Thus, it is the endeavour of this paper to investigate how the Indian government resolves such contradictory issues and provides insight on how politics and political systems can shape an industry’s competitive structure, especially in developing economies. In the fourth paper, Verhetsel and Sel explore the structure and dynamics of global maritime cities. While considerable researchers studied world cities, hitherto the role of maritime sector in this aspect had continued to be overlooked. In this paper, the authors explore the world maritime city network through applying the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) methods. Empirical evidences indicate that Bangkok/Laem Chabang, Hong Kong, Hamburg, London, New Jersey/New York, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo are the world’s leading maritime cities. Further analysis of interrelations within these cities between shipping companies and container terminals has identified Hong Kong, Hamburg and New York as the main nodes within the world maritime city network. In the fifth paper, Ng, Koo and Ho investigate the motivations and added-values of postgraduate education to the development of the maritime industry. There has been a recent growth of professional education where academic institutions increasingly offer postgraduate programmes on subjects traditionally emphasizing on apprentice-style/practical learning approach, including the maritime industry. The motivations behind such growth and
the addedvalues of these programmes to students, however, remain under-researched. Hence, through a Likert-style questionnaire survey towards students pursuing postgraduate maritime degrees, the authors argue that the changing requirements within the industries serve as the core factor in aspiring practitioners to pursue such degrees. Such programmes are also pivotal in human capital management, through preparing and retraining maritime professionals, to ensure the provision of quality services within the fast-changing maritime industries. In the sixth paper, Sys attempts to address whether container liner shipping industry is operating within an oligopolistic market. Although the shipping literature had long been occupied with this question, few authors had examined the market structure of the container liner shipping industry. Through applying the concentration ratios, results suggest that the stated industry has become more concentrated due to consolidation, and such continual process of concentration indicates that the stated industry can operate in either loose or tight oligopolistic markets, depending on different trade lanes. In the seventh paper, Zeng, Yang and Lai develop multi-craneoriented scheduling models dedicated to container terminals. ‘Multi-crane oriented’ is a scheduling method where yard trailers can be shared by different quay cranes. In this paper, two models have been developed by the authors. The first one is the intership-based sharing method, where yard trailers can be shared by quay cranes of different ships. To solve the model, a two-phase tabu search algorithm has been designed. The second one is the ship-based sharing method. In this model, yard trailers can only be shared by quay cranes of the same ship. Q-learning algorithm is designed to solve the model. Numerical tests show that multicrane-oriented models can decrease the yard trailers’ travel distance and reduce the disequilibrium of different working lines, thus improving the operational efficiencies of container terminals.
3. Epilogue The success of IFSPA 2008 is indebted to many people and organizations, not least the sponsors and partners. Sincere thanks are also given to all the speakers, guests, paper reviewers, authors, as well as the Editorial Board of Transport Policy. Without their generous support, a conference of this magnitude and this special issue may never materialize. Finally, gratitude must be given to all organizing committee members, for their indigenous efforts striving to make this conference a success. Last but not least, being the Co-Chairmen of IFSPA 2008 and the Editors of this special issue, we wish that readers would find this special issue interesting, informative and constructive to their understandings and inspiration on contemporary transportation and logistics evolution and development. References IFSPA, 2008. website: /www.lgt.polyu.edu.hk/ifspa2008S, last accessed on July 2009. Liu, J.J., Ng, K.Y.A., Fu, X. (Eds.), 2008. Proceedings of IFSPA 2008. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.