Using Open Source Data to Quantify the Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions at Niche Ports: Scenario Involving Canada’s Largest Oil Refinery

Niche ports typically are smaller marine ports that specialize in handling specific commodities and can be the interface between import and export of bulk commodities from landside facilities, such as oil refineries. Specialization can make port-dependent industries and their customers particularly vulnerable to disruptions of port operations because the specialized handling facilities may be unique to the port. Industries may not be able to shift their supply to other modes, such as rail. This paper outlines the use of automatic identification system transponder data from oceangoing vessels, in concert with open source data, to quantify first-order impacts of a supply chain disruption at a niche port. Results are presented from a study of a Canadian niche port where a worst-reasonable-case scenario of a 1-week disruption to oil imports and exports would delay delivery of an estimated 246 million L of fuel to New England for at least a week; Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, would be most affected. The approach used in this study could be a valuable screening tool for public safety agencies wanting a better understanding of vulnerabilities and interdependencies at niche ports in situations in which detailed simulations and modeling are impractical.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2549-04
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309369831
• Authors:
  • Hanson, Trevor R
• Publication Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 29–36
• Monograph Title: Marine Transportation and International Trade
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2549
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic tracking; Data analysis; Exports; Forecasting; Petroleum refineries; Port operations; Seaports; Service disruption; Supply chain management; Transponders
• Identifier Terms: National Automatic Identification System
• Geographic Terms: Canada; New England
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01590077
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309369831
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-4595
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 10 2016 9:43AM