MEDPORTS project activities


MEDPORTS project, funded by ENPI CBCMED Meiterranean Sea Basin Programme, aims to increase the ports sustainability and efficiency in intermodal synchronization in Mediterranean region.
In the technical work package (WP4) of MEDPORTS project ‘’analysis of intermodal logistics processes’’, OEPT (Office d’Exploitation du Port de Tripoli) has selected the study of dry bulk import process. Therefore, after the elaboration of VSM (Value Stream Mapping) of the selected process, a time study of VSM processes prepared to determine waste of time and bottlenecks in order to improve the activities of dry bulk import process. OEPT have collected time data related to each dry bulk import process using the theoretical data collected for year 2013 until May 2014. Also, many technical meetings were held in Tripoli port with the collaboration of Business Incubation Administration in Tripoli (BIAT) partners in order to collect a real time data and verify the data collected for the time study.

 

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In June 2014, the second steering committee and the first technical committee of MEDPORTS project organized by BAU (Al-Balqa Applied University) was held in Jordan, Amman. During this meeting, the participants discussed the output of data collected by questionnaire and the elaborated VSM of the involved ports. In addition the communication plan of the project has presented by BIAT and a draft of the capitalization plan prepared by OEPT was presented and discussed. Finally, the participants agreed on the ongoing activities for the next phase. Then all partners visited Aqaba seaport in order to view all integrating logistic processes.

 

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MEDPORTS project is going forward in its technical work package about ‘’analysis of intermodal logistics processes’’ of the participating ports (Port of Tripoli, Port of Seville and Port of Aqaba). As a result of this WP, two deliverables were done, the first is preliminary study and state of the art of the innovative technologies used in operations at terminal ports and the 2nd is Guideline about the methodology that can be used by port terminals staff to analyze all operations in these terminals, to identify and solve problems for the improvement of port areas.
Concerning the current WP 5 ‘’Technological proposal’’, where BIAT with the coordination of OEPT have identified different technologies that are possible to be applied in Port of Tripoli, such as implementing of port community system (PCS), Warehouse Management System (WMS), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), use of containers and create a center of analysis, all these proposals aim to improve and optimize the processes by reducing time waste during import of dry bulk import process. After the identification of these technologies, BIAT will carrying out a feasible-economical study to define the most feasible solution to be implemented in port of Tripoli.
Currently, OEPT is carrying out a survey that aim of assessing the competiveness of Port of Tripoli from the perception of companies and institutions in the sector, regarding import of dry bulk process.
    
For more information please visit website MEDPORTS

 

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MEDPORTS international Capitalization Event
 

 

On November 11th,2015 the International Capitalization for MEDPORTS event was organized by the Business Incubation Association in Tripoli (BIAT) and the Office d’Exploitation de Port de Tripoli (OEPT), in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture in the North in Business Incubation Association in Tripoli – BIAT building. Participated to the event, the head of Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture in the North Mr. Toufic Dabboussy, the director of OEPT Dr. Ahmad Tamer, Director of Business Incubation Association in Tripoli BIAT Mr. Fawaz Hamdi, MEDPORTS partners of Al-Balq’a University in Jordan, local shipping agencies and stakeholders in maritime transport, representative of municipality of Tripoli and Union of El Fayhaa municipalities, MESP members, OEPT staff, Maritime Students of FEIT at MUT as well as other local personalities.

 

The event started with welcome speeches by the president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture in the North, the manager of Tripoli Port and the director of BIAT. Following, Prof. Amin Robaidi presented “Available technological systems to develop ports”. Then, Eng. Hajar presented “general overview of MEDPORTS project as a tool for optimizing goods and movement, minimizing the permanence to goods in the Mediterranean Basin Ports and providing a higher level of service”. Dr. Jaime Beltran presented hence “Towards the port of the future and was followed by Mr. Hamze Obeid presenting “technological proposal and feasibility study: main results and identified best practices”. A short movie on MEDPORTS entitled “this is the story of MEDPORTS” closed the event.

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Tripoli port toward a better future

Port of Tripoli is considered among the most important ports on the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea due to its strategic location as a link between the East and the West. It is the second most vital port in Lebanon after the Port of Beirut. It has an approximate area of Three Million m2, with a water area of 1,500,000 m2, a land area of 950,000 m2, and a 550,000 m2 dump area adjacent to the current port, reserved for the future Special Economic Zone.

The Port currently has 2 basins and 7 berths (1000m,number 2-8) with depths varying from 8 to 10 meters and a new quay 600 mlong(number1) with 15.2 m depth. The Port receives about 450 ships every year, with an average of 37 ships per month. Most ships carry general goods and dry discharge such as iron, wood, and sugar, various kinds of beans, iron scrap, vehicles, and construction materials. The location of the port is 80 Km away from the capital Beirut and only 30 km from the border with Syria. The Port of Tripoli plays a pivotal role in a very active transit activity and thus is a main access key to the Gulf and the Arab World.

Tripoli port has been granted an international certificate in quality management system “ISO 9001”. Currently, OEPT integrates a new management systems related to Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ISO 14001:2004 & OHSAS 18001:2007).

Port of Tripoli is participating as a partner in the “Strategic Mediterranean ports Sustainability & Efficiency in Intermodal Synchronization” MEDPORTS project which is co-financed by the multilateral cross-border cooperation "Mediterranean Sea Basin Program". The duration of the project implementation is set to 24 months.

MEDPORTS project aims to increase the ports sustainability and efficiency in intermodal synchronization in Mediterranean region (ENPI CBC MED region).The specific objective of MEDPORTS is to analyze efficient and sustainable technical solutions to optimize time of synchronization of intermodal freight exchange minimizing the permanence of goods in the Mediterranean Basin ports and providing a higher level of services (quality, safety, delivery time, etc.) to the different actors of the supply chain. The partners involved in this project are IAT (Andalusian Institute of Technology) & UCA (University of Cadiz) from Spain, OEPT (Office d’Exploitation du Port de Tripoli) & BIAT (Business Incubation Association in TRIPOLI) from Lebanon and BAU (Al Balqa Applied University) from Jordan and the associates participating in the project are APS (Port Authority of Seville), POA (Port of Aqaba) and CNC-LOGISTICA (National Center of Excellence in Logistics).

In January 2014, the kick of meeting of MEDPORTS project was held in IAT (Seville, Spain) where each partner introduced his organization and discussed the project’s work plans. Finally, all partners agreed on the framework of this project in order to reach the objectives and expected results.

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MEDPORTS project is going forwards in its technical work package about analysis of intermodal logistics processes of the participating ports (Port of Tripoli, Port of Seville and Port of Aqaba). OEPT has selected the study of dry bulk import process. Therefore, many prepared questionnaires by the Applicant IAT were filled with the aid of the involved agents (shipping agent, customs broker, freight forwarder…) in order to define the flow of this process and create a data base for the elaboration of VSM (Value Stream Mapping).

 

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During April 2014, BIAT visited port of Tripoli, where different technical meetings were held in order to verify the data collected and to complete the development of VSM. Currently, a time study of VSM processes is prepared to determine waste of time and bottlenecks in order to improve the activities of dry bulk import process.

 

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Ahmad Tamer: CMA CGM to start operations at Tripoli Port

 

Port of Beirut transshipment operator CMA CGM has opened offices at the Port of Tripoli (PoT) where it will soon begin operations, according to Ahmad Tamer, Director General of PoT.

Other companies that joined PoT this year include Danish firm Maersk, UAE-based United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), Italian Tarros, and Turkish Arkas.

PoT has decided to set the price of container handling fees between nine and 12 percent. Port fees have been reduced by 53 percent compared to other ports nearby. Containers at at the port are now allowed to stay 15 days before storage fees are levied, compared to a stay of nine days at the Port of Beirut. The fees have also been decreased to 44 percent comparative to other ports.

Tamer said: “We want to compete with other ports. Price is one of three factors we have taken into consideration.” The other two factors include service and specialization.

He said that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has also approved the port’s request for a loan to complete the logistic and infrastructure requirements. Planned infrastructure includes truck parking stations, buildings, and roads. The loan is estimated at $52 million.

“The bank will also provide us with scanners to inspect goods,” he said.

The loan will require the approval of Parliament. It is currently being studied by the Council for Development and Reconstruction.

PoT is also set to receive six cranes from China next month.