Sustainability Practices to Achieve Sustainability in International Port Operations

Abstract

Sustainability is a broad concept involving economic, social and environmental issues in operational and managerial processes. To assist ports to implant sustainability practices into their operations, this paper conceptualizes the structure of sustainability practice in port operations, based on interviews undertaken at Busan port in early 2013. Results revealed that, as a strategic practice to improve their internal business processes, sustainability practices necessitate the simultaneous pursuit of container traffic growth, low environmental impacts and corporate responsible image making, operational efficiency, efficiency of the use of the port area and sustainable growth. Through thematic analysis, the relevant practices were clustered into four sub-dimensions incorporating environmental technologies, continual monitoring and upgrading, internal process improvement, and cooperation and communication. Further, reporting the relevant issues such as barriers and challenges in carrying out sustainability practices, the findings provide useful insights for strategic agenda to assist ports to incorporate sustainability practices in their operations.