SHIPPING AND PORT MANAGEMENT

Shipping refers mainly the physical process of transporting goods and cargo. In a broader sense shipping which is being associated with Logistics refers to the flow of goods, information and mostly other resources, including energy and people, which is between the point of origin and the point of consumption. Thus shipping and logistics have been in combination and being included in all aspects of transportation, storage and packaging of goods and commodities. Despite the many variables in shipped products and locations, there are also only three basic types of shipments: land, air, and sea.

Quantum growth in most of the inter-regional and intra-regional trade has made shipping and logistics industries a favoured place for the new generation. With such an increasing complexity, qualified professionals are required to manage shipping and port industries across the globe. Shipping and Port management which plays a crucial role in national and international trade and commerce, falls in the department of logistics. As almost 90% of world's overall trade is being done through sea route, these ports need to be managed well. When trade across countries flourished in the earlier times, movement of freight by means of ships was considered the most cost effective means of transport.

This increased the need for the professionals in this area to manage port activities. Port Management is the process of transportation of materials and goods, handling and storage, ship operations and safety and health management. Ports usually deal with number of disparate activities like loading and unloading of ships, containers, and other cargo and even customs activities as well as human resources. Port management is the most necessary position required to keep ports organized, supervised, and functioning. Managing ports is a combination of material handling, road transport, storage, safe ship operations, health and safety. In other words, the very much varied Port management includes overseeing all commercial and technical components of the shipping industry. Duties in port management may also include cooperating with other ports, coordinating deliveries with ships, overseeing port development, advertising and promoting the port, and enforcing security and environmental protection initiatives.




With increasing importance of international trade in this arena, the need for skilled individuals to manage ports has increased. Services of shipping and port management professionals are required by both government agencies and private sectors. One can find opportunities in the shipping and navy departments as ship manager, port captain / manager, Merchant officer, etc. Port captain is the most responsible person for the wetting of tankers and cargo supervision. Ship management involves the staff in crew management, Technical and commercial management. Technical department is fairly responsible for the smooth, safe and economic operation of vessels.

The job profile of a ship manager in the technical department includes preparation and overseeing of dry dock operation. Some of the organizations who would need port managers include shipping companies, clearing and forwarding companies, agency houses, export and import firms and major ports worldwide. There are also jobs opportunities in the Railways and defense sector. The shipping and port managers can mostly work with International shipping majors and private port corporations. You can also find job with private packers and movers, more commonly transporters and organizations dealing with cargo handling.

Shipping and Port Management A few institutes in India offer courses in shipping and port management. They are: Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; Academy of Maritime Education & Training (AMET), Kanathur, Tamil Nadu; National Institute of Port Management, Chennai; National Institute of Shipping Management, Mumbai; Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping, Mumbai; Indian Institute of Logistics, Chennai; Institute of Management, Mumbai. Institute of Rail Transport, New Delhi. University of Petroleum and Energy studies, Dehradun

Sky is the only limit in terms of pay packages of shipping and port managers. In government departments their pay packages are not so high. However, shipping and port managers' salaries are very high in private sectors along with other benefits like house rent, medical allowances and retirement benefits. Shipping and Port Managers usually can find suitable employment opportunities in government departments like Railways and Defence. PSUs like Shipping Corporation and other agencies in the field of logistics and shipping are favoured place for shipping managers.

However, working with private logistics and shipping companies are the best option available to shipping and port managers. These professional also can work with private packer and movers and transporters. Heavy industries dealing with high volume of inflow and outflow of goods and commodities also require logistics managers to ensure smooth and in-time supply. Besides, opportunities are also being available with mainly organizations specializing in cargo handling. Shipping and port managers also can work with International shipping majors.