Our Benchmark Report Shows Where Ports Can Improve
Don’t focus on stats, focus on what you can influence
When it comes to port logistics, time is one of the most important currencies. On average, the daily running costs of ships are between 18k and 35k dollars. Every hour spent waiting – whether anchorage, drifting near the terminal, or steaming up a river – influences operational efficiency and the supply chain. And that costs serious money.
Our benchmark report on US East Coast ports (Q1, liquid bulk traffic) clearly shows which ports perform well and which lag behind.
Or does it?
Although most people only look at overall time spent at berth, that is just a part of a bigger picture. More important is Port Turnaround Time (PTT), a largely overlooked metric in port performance. Not only does this muddy the water, it’s also a missed opportunity. Because based on the available data, ports can absolutely improve in this area, supporting the port as a whole and the individual players.
At Teqplay we conducted a study of various ports on the East Coast of US and wrote a benchmark report uncovering the hidden story behind the data. Get our benchmark report here.
PTT, a blind spot in the supply chain
Instead of berth time, at Teqplay we look at the critical indicators of supply chain performance: time at arrival, at berth, and everywhere in between, that’s also where you can often make a difference. If we look at Q1 data from Eastern US liquid bulk traffic, it shows a stark contrast between the different ports. Leading are Savannah, Virginia and Baltimore with the most efficient PTT. Meanwhile — perhaps unsurprisingly — Houston, Beaumont, and New Orleans bring up the rear. And yes, geography plays a role since transits tend to take longer, but that’s not the whole story.
Why is there delay?
Our data shows that the real difference lies in waiting time. Time bleeds out in all parts of the call process: anchorage, in-river delays, and inefficient berth assignments. This is a bigger problem for larger ports due to vessel size, complex rotations, and operational friction between terminals. However — and there’s the crux — this isn’t ‘how things are’. It’s operational waste that can be addressed and shouldn’t be considered the cost of doing business. But it might simply be the cost of not collaborating effectively.
What can be influenced?
Not everything can be directly influenced by port authorities or other stakeholders. Terminal schedules, pilot availability, tug allocations: they are all managed by disconnected organizations that focus on their own optimization without considering the bigger picture. However, ports can play an essential role in improving this. Steering overall outcomes through data visibility, stakeholder alignment, and soft influence. Working together to deliver more than the sum of their parts. All based on live and past data.
This is where Teqplay steps in.
Workable data
With the data we deliver, we offer real-time insights into what causes delays. Not just benchmarks, but data on the process-level that precisely pinpoints what’s going on, where improvement is possible, and who needs to act when.
Examples:
- Berth Availability: Misalignment at arrival leads to unnecessary anchorage and steaming time.
- Tug Capacity: Overburdened or mismanaged tug schedules create delays across port operations.
- Anchorage Patterns: Duration, order of entry, and utilization impact both waiting time and scheduling.
- Pilot & Steaming Data: Planned vs. actual steaming times reveal inefficiencies and operational drag.
- Alongside Activities: Conflicts like bunkering can quietly extend turnaround times.
- Multi-Berth Call Impacts: Shifting between berths in large, multi-terminal ports — especially river ports — add significant hidden delays.
From Insight To Action
The data Teqplay provides isn’t just about making delays visible; it also shows where ports can intervene. The role of the port is, based on real-time data, to trigger conversations, incentivize improvements, and ensure stakeholders play their part in the bigger picture. Because when it comes to ports, performance doesn’t improve with control, it improves with clarity.
Are you ready to shift from assumptions to insights? Let’s start by showing you what else the data reveals. Get our benchmark report here.
What Can We Do For You?
Let’s get in contact. We can help you get a grip on Port Turnaround Time with tools to run operations smarter and improve performance. Are you one of the ports in our benchmark (or want to be included)? Let us help you get more insights over a longer period of time, using more data.
Start understanding your waste and unleveraged port potential. Download our benchmark, and let’s expose and eliminate waste together.
Léon Gommans | CEO/Co Founder of Teqplay
A serial entrepreneur who’s passionate about #innovation, #technology, #collaboration, and of course, #maritime. The mission is: to connect the dots & to get it to work, together with the industry!
- +31 (0)6 55306660
- leon@teqplay.com
- Léon Gommans