Port operators need to further strengthen business continuity protocols and ensure availability of technology for telecommuting employees amid the pandemic, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).
In its policy brief titled “Emerging Strategies for Ports During the Pandemic,” Unctad cited recommendations to improve operations of ports, which are deemed as the “essential facilitators of world trade” as they handle 80 percent of the trade volume across the globe.
“Ports should use business continuity planning processes to develop action protocols for pandemic scenarios based on recommendations from national and regional authorities,” the UN committee said, basing on policy recommendations by 1,246 port professionals from 105 countries.
The contingency planning scenarios, it explained, should be “developed for the successful implementation of preventative actions and to identify appropriate responses to suspected infection cases in a pandemic situation.”
Citing an example, the report noted the initiative of the Philippine Ports Authority in launching a quarantine facility for over 100 seafarers.
As for remote working, Unctad said that port operators should be able to make the appropriate technology available as this will allow continuous operations.
But they also need to put up security measures and enough capacity to cater to the employees relying on digital platforms to do their work and communicate with colleagues, it added.
“Port managers should assign a high level of priority to implementing productivity tools for telecommuting staff and digitalizing processes, to enable business to continue uninterrupted while improving information technology security and resilience,” the policy brief explained.
For the health and well-being of the port workers, it was also recommended to continue the provision of vaccination facilities, testing centers and contact tracing.
“Designating transport and port workers as essential workers with the particular responsibility of maintaining services can help alleviate disruptions to supply chains, and ports should provide ‘green lanes’ on existing road networks and allocate dedicated berths for vessels in ports for the rapid transport of emergency supplies,” it added.
Unctad noted ports shifted to crisis management mode when the pandemic hit about two years ago.
The operators, it explained, were prompted by the Covid-19 to reassess their emergency response plans and adjust accordingly to keep their businesses running.
“Throughout the pandemic, ports have demonstrated their ability to manage the safe and efficient handling of essential goods such as medical equipment and emergency supplies,” the policy brief said. “The main strategic objective of ports during the pandemic has been to remain in business while putting in place working arrangements and protocols to protect the health and safety of essential port workers.”
Given the importance of their role, the port workers, along with terminal operators, Customs officers, public health officials, immigration staff and civic police, were considered as essential service providers.
In its Review of Maritime Transport 2021 report, Unctad said that the high freight rates are expected to linger in the coming months, posing a threat to economies’ bid to recover amid the pandemic.
The spike in freight rates were due to “mismatch between surging demand and de facto reduced supply capacity,” Unctad said.
Since the second half of 2020, the UN committee explained that consumer spending was primarily focused on goods instead of services amid the mobility restrictions. “Working from home, online shopping and increased computer sales all placed unprecedented demand on supply chains,” it noted.
The surge in orders put pressure on the supply chains due to heavier containerized trade flows, Unctad said, noting this was exacerbated by capacity constraints such as container ship carrying capacity, container shortages, labor shortages, Covid-19 restrictions across port regions and port congestions.