Big Data Insights into Container Vessel Dwell Times

Abstract

Analysis of automatic identification system (AIS) vessel call records can greatly improve our understanding of container vessel dwell times when coupled with information on port volumes and vessel schedules. Port productivity discussions often use vessel time in port—referred to as dwell time, turnaround time, or berth time—as a primary metric. This emphasis implies a need to understand the factors that determine dwell time, especially in port comparisons. Previous dwell time analyses have been handicapped by limited data. This analysis differs in that it uses a multiyear, multiport database covering all relevant vessel calls at major continental U.S. container ports (Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Houston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, Northwest Seaport Alliance, New York–New Jersey, Oakland, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Port Everglades, Savannah, Virginia, and Wilmington, NC), and by including vessel schedules and seasonality. The analysis indicated a much stronger association of dwell time with expected cargo volume at each call than with vessel capacity, and expected cargo volumes helped explain port dwell time differences. The analysis also found that vessel schedules may be the primary determinants of dwell time, and that schedule adherence may thus be equally important as dwell time per se. Seasonality also affected container vessel dwell time, but that influence may be complex as both weather conditions and seasonal cargo peaks probably affect the outcomes. Promising avenues for future research lie in merging AIS vessel call records with other data sets that, unfortunately, may not yet exist or be accessible.