Today was a day full of Portside Perspectives! We started our day off bright and early and headed to the Limassol Port. Here, we had multiple amazing presentations from the Cyprus Ports Authority, DP World, P&O and Eurogate. We were able to learn about each and every one of these port companies and how they manage their supply chain as well as what the key components are in their day-to-day functionality. For starters, the Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA), is responsible for the development, management and operations of the ports of the country, covering ownership and regulation of major port installations. Within this port, there are 9 members of the board that oversee the implementation of policy directions issued by the Minister of Communications. What I really enjoyed about this company was the diversity and authority they hold within Cyprus. For example, a few of the CPA’s main jobs are to provide commercial services, provide public functions and regulate for port services offered in all port installations. Being able to witness such a powerful company doing an amazing job with an amazing reputation was inspiring to see! The Cyprus Port Authory has three concessionaires – DP World, P&O Maritime and Eurogate. DP World is a company that is a “multipurpose terminal”. They operate in 32+ countries in 250+ locations, amazing right? They integrated the Global Logistics Solution that is now present in all continents. I also learned that their 3 areas of expertise is in the New Passenger Terminal Area, Oil & Gas Area, and the Cargo Area. Moreover, P&O Maritime is a company headquartered in Dubai. They have 400 vessels and 3500 vessel moves. They specialize with an innovative approach, local partners, and are extremely customer oriented. One thing I found really intriguing is that it is required that their employees speak Greek because it keeps the employment local. Finally, Eurogate – the company that specializes only in containers. Founded in September of 1999, Eurogate now is the leading independent shipping line container terminal network with 12 container terminals at 9 locations in 5 countries. They work 24/7, and they do it well. What really stuck out to me about Eurgate was how they are currently looking into AI algorithms to help them with machines and installations. Considering all the AI advancements in the US, it was interesting to me that a country like Cyprus is taking these concerns into account as well.
The way all of these companies integrate supply chain management into their procedures was so admirable. Their work rate pays off, and they have all had so much success! I feel like the way the CPA overlooks DP World, P&O Maritime and Eurogate portrays a sense of virtual integration by the way each company specializes in a skill and then succeeds very well in the market they are in. For example, Eurogate specializes in containers, and they do it very well with a serious process that takes at least 3 months of training to learn. Even witnessing the containers being placed on top of one another by a crane was so cool to me. It is such a tedious yet intense job that every little movement makes a large impact on the outcome. Also, depending on the company, I think the ideas of direct delivery and milk-run delivery were very prominent in these companies. We learned today that overall, Cyprus ports have more deliveries coming in than going out; however, when they do go out I feel that they are more milk-run considering all the countries these companies are present in. These companies are very experienced with their delivery processes in general, with their order management, delivery scheduling and distribution centers. I learned that a huge factor in the supply chain of these companies is communication. It is so important when it comes to delays, or even early arrivals. Supply chain involves so much communication and I think that was prominent in today’s presentations. Overall, visiting the Limassol port was not only educational, but it was beautiful as well. I really loved these company visits and cannot wait for what is next!
