Current status and development trends of container terminals in the maritime transportation system

Abstract

The annual growth in the volume of maritime transportation, in particular, of containers, leads to an increase in the load on container terminals, which are the constituent elements in the maritime container transportation system. Container terminals are intermediate nodes of global supply chains that connect production and consumption centers. For Ukrainian ports, it is important to generalize the modern experience that will be needed in the first measuring times in Ukraine, when the sustainable development of ports will be a necessary condition for reliable provision of import and export supplies. So, global trends are important, but for our country and its transport system, it is vital to determine precisely those trends that will primarily affect the development and functioning of Ukrainian container terminals. The purpose of this study is to identify and generalize the main trends in the development of container terminals, which are of crucial importance for Ukraine after the end of hostilities. The following trends have been identified and characterized: automation and digitalization, creation of SMART ports and terminals; development of ports towards "green" ports, which requires the introduction of new environmental technologies and handling equipment; changes in the technological equipment of terminals and the organization of their work under the influence of an increase in the size of container ships and a steady trend of increasing container traffic volumes.