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Evaluating the Environmental Performance and Operational Efficiency of Container Ports: An Application to the Maritime Silk Road

Author

Listed:
  • Gang Dong

    (School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Jing Zhu

    (School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Jin Li

    (School of Management and E-Business, Key Research Institute-Modern Business Research Center, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Handong Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Yuvraj Gajpal

    (Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V4, Canada)

Abstract

A major goal for port authorities, operators, and investors is to achieve efficient operations and effective environmental protection. This is because the environmental performance of a container port is important for its competitiveness and sustainable development. However, the container ports along the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) have caused numerous problems with the rapid development, among which the most significant problem is environmental pollution. In this paper, we aim to measure and compare the environmental performance and operational efficiency of ten major container ports along the MSR, including the ports of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kelang, Laem Chabang, Colombo, Dubai, Barcelona, Antwerp, and Hamburg. We develop an improved, inseparable data envelopment analysis (DEA) model with slack-based measures (SBMs) to evaluate and compare the environmental performance and operational efficiency, and we incorporate the desirable output of container throughput as well as the undesirable output of CO 2 emission. Our results show that. Overall. these container ports perform better in terms of operational efficiency than environmental performance. We also provide insights for management and policy makers for container ports with different levels of operational efficiency and environmental performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Gang Dong & Jing Zhu & Jin Li & Handong Wang & Yuvraj Gajpal, 2019. "Evaluating the Environmental Performance and Operational Efficiency of Container Ports: An Application to the Maritime Silk Road," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:12:p:2226-:d:242558
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhuyuan Li & Xiaolong Wang & Run Zheng & Sanggyun Na & Chang Liu, 2022. "Evaluation Analysis of the Operational Efficiency and Total Factor Productivity of Container Terminals in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Mushtaq Taleb & Ruzelan Khalid & Ali Emrouznejad & Razamin Ramli, 2023. "Environmental efficiency under weak disposability: an improved super efficiency data envelopment analysis model with application for assessment of port operations considering NetZero," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 6627-6656, July.
    4. Xuejun Feng & Jinxing Shen & Haoming Yang & Kang Wang & Qiming Wang & Zhongguo Zhou, 2020. "Time–Frequency Analysis of Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) Concentration in Dry Bulk Ports Using the Hilbert–Huang Transform," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-15, August.

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