Seaport inland access with and without a dry port - A comparison of the two systems from an environmental perspective

Paper i proceeding, 2006

This paper evaluates the dry port concept from an environmental perspective using modelling and simulation. The dry port concept is based on a seaport directly connected by rail to inland intermodal terminals, where shippers can leave and/or collect their goods in intermodal loading units as if directly at the seaport. In addition to the transhipment that a conventional inland intermodal terminal provides, services such as storage, consolidation, depot, maintenance of containers, and customs clearance are usually also available at dry ports. The hypothesis behind this study is that a carefully implemented dry port concept can shift freight volumes from road to more energy-efficient and less environmentally harmful rail, reduce road congestion in seaport cities and facilitate improved logistics solutions for shippers in the port’s hinterland. A model of a transport system, with and without a dry port, is created and the results of the simulations compared. The benefits of the dry port implementation are defined from an environmental perspective; calculated CO2 emissions are approximately 25% lower with an implemented dry port for the chosen case, while congestion and truck waiting times at the terminal are significantly reduced. The software tool Planimate™ was used for modelling and simulation in this study.