Analysis of the efficiency of the transport logistics supply chain with specific reference to liner shipping in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Liner shipping supplies a frequent scheduled transport service between designated portsto meet the needs of importers and exporters. Those needs are becoming more specificas a result of increasing competition attributable to globalisation of trade whileimporters and exporters are requiring more exacting services from the liner operators.The elements of service which most concern the importers and exporters are obviouslythe costs they must bear for the conveyance of the cargo and the time taken for itsdelivery. In order to meet the requirements of importers and exporters and at the sametime enable the operators of the services to remain in business in the face of increasingcompetition within the industry, liner shipping worldwide is undergoing major changes.These changes are intended to increase the economies of scale and to extend control ofthe liner operators over the landside transport services. A discussion on liner shippingand current developments is contained in Chapter 3.Liner shipping plays an indispensable role in the economy of South Africa becausealmost 50% by value of South African imports are containerised. That equates to 8% ofSouth African imports by volume (Moving South Africa: 1998), although it must beborne in mind that some of the cargo moving through South African ports is ultimatelydestined for countries in SADC (Southern African Development Community).According to Drewry Shipping Consultants, containerised cargo worldwide has beengrowing at the rate of about 8% per annum since 1980 and the South African trade hasexperienced a similarly high growth.The actual transport of containers, by sea is only one of the elements in the transportlogistics supply chain (TLSC) between exporters in one country and importers inanother with which liner operators must concern themselves. A conceptual backgroundexplaining the entire TLSC is provided in Chapter 2. In that chapter, the TLSe isdefined and two models are used to identify key elements of the TLSC as well asinteraction between them.Inefficiencies existing in individual elements of the TLSC as well as suggested solutionsto the underlying problems are discussed in Chapter 4. Emphasis is placed on the needto use information technology as a vehicle to integrate the individual elements of theTLSe and as a means of saving costs and time. A discussion of the economic benefitsof an efficient TLSe is contained in Chapter 5, while Chapter 6 includes a discussion onlocal and regional developments that have a bearing on the efficiency of the TLSe. Theconclusions of the study together with recommended action are contained in Chapter 7.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University