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Drifting Into the Sea: A Qualitative Analysis on the Commercial Viability of a Floating Container Terminal

Sanders Ii, Lemuel LU and Halldén, Sebastian LU (2024) SMMM40 20241
Department of Service Studies
Abstract
Inland port expansion requires immense investment costs often resulting in dredging and
creating a new physical space for production and especially when handling Ultra Large
Container Vessels (ULCVs). A floating container terminal (FCT) is an innovation that sets out to
change the landscape within what is required to handle ULCV’s. The structure can be placed out
at sea where no dredging is required and comes equipped with automated cranes to handle the
discharging of ULCV’s and loading of feeder vessels to bring cargo inland. The innovation acts
in other words as a transhipment hub.
The study sets out to understand if the floating container terminal is commercially viable from
the viewpoint of the maritime logistics sector. This... (More)
Inland port expansion requires immense investment costs often resulting in dredging and
creating a new physical space for production and especially when handling Ultra Large
Container Vessels (ULCVs). A floating container terminal (FCT) is an innovation that sets out to
change the landscape within what is required to handle ULCV’s. The structure can be placed out
at sea where no dredging is required and comes equipped with automated cranes to handle the
discharging of ULCV’s and loading of feeder vessels to bring cargo inland. The innovation acts
in other words as a transhipment hub.
The study sets out to understand if the floating container terminal is commercially viable from
the viewpoint of the maritime logistics sector. This is best understood using grounded theory as a
qualitative method. 19 semi-structured interviews with different actors of the maritime logistics
sector in their field of work are utilized to collect data from which the research question is
answered. The data from the interviews is then studied with the help of line by line, axial and
selective coding and further analyzed through the lens of Rogers (2003) Diffusions of
Innovations - Decision Model.
The results show that the FCT is not commercially viable from the viewpoint of the maritime
logistics sector, but that there is potential for the innovation to become commercially viable. The
analysis takes the answer to the research question one step further by finding an understanding
as to what can make the FCT commercially viable from the viewpoint of the maritime logistics
sector with the help from the data gathered during the interviews. There are different viewpoints
amongst actors given their role in a theoretical concept when handling the FCT. This ultimately
changes the perception of value of the actors since they would have different roles in a reality
where the FCT exists either as customers or operators. The key findings indicate that economic
feasibility and efficient handling is above all the most important success factors, followed by
security to make the floating container terminal commercially viable. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sanders Ii, Lemuel LU and Halldén, Sebastian LU
supervisor
organization
course
SMMM40 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Grounded Theory, Terminals, Containers, Ports, Innovation
language
English
id
9167918
date added to LUP
2024-06-25 11:12:40
date last changed
2024-06-25 11:12:40
@misc{9167918,
  abstract     = {{Inland port expansion requires immense investment costs often resulting in dredging and
creating a new physical space for production and especially when handling Ultra Large
Container Vessels (ULCVs). A floating container terminal (FCT) is an innovation that sets out to
change the landscape within what is required to handle ULCV’s. The structure can be placed out
at sea where no dredging is required and comes equipped with automated cranes to handle the
discharging of ULCV’s and loading of feeder vessels to bring cargo inland. The innovation acts
in other words as a transhipment hub.
The study sets out to understand if the floating container terminal is commercially viable from
the viewpoint of the maritime logistics sector. This is best understood using grounded theory as a
qualitative method. 19 semi-structured interviews with different actors of the maritime logistics
sector in their field of work are utilized to collect data from which the research question is
answered. The data from the interviews is then studied with the help of line by line, axial and
selective coding and further analyzed through the lens of Rogers (2003) Diffusions of
Innovations - Decision Model.
The results show that the FCT is not commercially viable from the viewpoint of the maritime
logistics sector, but that there is potential for the innovation to become commercially viable. The
analysis takes the answer to the research question one step further by finding an understanding
as to what can make the FCT commercially viable from the viewpoint of the maritime logistics
sector with the help from the data gathered during the interviews. There are different viewpoints
amongst actors given their role in a theoretical concept when handling the FCT. This ultimately
changes the perception of value of the actors since they would have different roles in a reality
where the FCT exists either as customers or operators. The key findings indicate that economic
feasibility and efficient handling is above all the most important success factors, followed by
security to make the floating container terminal commercially viable.}},
  author       = {{Sanders Ii, Lemuel and Halldén, Sebastian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Drifting Into the Sea: A Qualitative Analysis on the Commercial Viability of a Floating Container Terminal}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}