Adding: A container ship doesn't unload and load everything in one go. It goes to multiple ports. Else instead of 18.000 you'd be looking at 36.000 (unload, load.. any trade discrepancy is offset needing to bring back empty containers).
Don't have any experience, but heard that US terminals usually are really slow. Unions not looking out for employees but instead to show off their influence/power. Resulting in lower performance.
Searching a bit more I noticed one source (http://www.apmterminals.com/en/news/press-releases/2014/12/a...) mentions that "11,200 containers handled during 56 hours of port operations, including one shift of nine cranes at 29 gross moves per hour.[..]APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles was ranked first in productivity for North American ports in 2014 in the JOC Group’s annual productivity report".
I don't consider those stats impressive (the 29). Note that the 11,200 containers mentioned is not a TEU. Could be around 18000 TEU; but then over 56 hours.
Regarding the need to sort and maybe sort twice: Any decent terminal should've starting making/initiating improvements various years ago. Yard moves/shiftings and the distance travelled should be one of the standard measures that's looked at IMO.
Port itself should make long term plans for this. It is not like these things are unpredictable or unexpected.
Don't have any experience, but heard that US terminals usually are really slow. Unions not looking out for employees but instead to show off their influence/power. Resulting in lower performance.
Searching a bit more I noticed one source (http://www.apmterminals.com/en/news/press-releases/2014/12/a...) mentions that "11,200 containers handled during 56 hours of port operations, including one shift of nine cranes at 29 gross moves per hour.[..]APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles was ranked first in productivity for North American ports in 2014 in the JOC Group’s annual productivity report".
I don't consider those stats impressive (the 29). Note that the 11,200 containers mentioned is not a TEU. Could be around 18000 TEU; but then over 56 hours.
Regarding the need to sort and maybe sort twice: Any decent terminal should've starting making/initiating improvements various years ago. Yard moves/shiftings and the distance travelled should be one of the standard measures that's looked at IMO.
Port itself should make long term plans for this. It is not like these things are unpredictable or unexpected.