Port performance: The importance of land transport in a developing economy

This study set out to establish that land transport system in the country of destination, determines the turn-around time, capacity utilisation of port infrastructure, facilities and cargo-handling equipment and general port performance. Of particular interest, is the contribution of road transport infrastructures and system to the magnitude of turn-around time, port performance and general economic growth and development. This is true and significant for developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, where transport systems are poorly developed and sparsely integrated; but the economies are import oriented. The port’s rates of capacity utilisation was determined over a period 14 years (1990 to 2007) and a study of ship traffic was done for 156 vessels calling at the port and 19, 296 loaded road vehicles leaving the port between 1 December, 2006 and 31 March, 2007. The result showed that over-utilisation of road transport resulted in under-utilisation of several port infrastructures, port congestion; longer turn-around time and general poor performance of the port. The need for a well-integrated transport system was therefore underlined.