Reducing Vessel Turnaround Time to Improve Port Efficiency A case study at Inter Terminals Gothenburg

Abstract

This thesis investigates how vessel turnaround time can be reduced to improved operational efficiency at Inter Terminals Gothenburg, a liquid bulk terminal operating within a shared port infrastructure. The aim was to identify where waste, non-value-added time, and operational bottlenecks occur in the vessel turnaround process, and to propose improvements that can be implemented within the existing infrastructure and operating setup. A single case study was conducted using a mixed-method approach structured to the DMAIC framework, combining internal and external interviews, observations, operational documents, and quantitative time data. The findings show that the main structural bottlenecks are connected to quay and pipeline availability, where several actors depend on the same shared infrastructure. The findings also show that vessels may remain at berth during periods when pumping is not active, but that this time often consists of necessary surrounding activities such as documentation, inspection, sampling, customs and tax clearance, and coordination between the involved actors. A recurring issue was that vessels could remain at berth without pumping taking place. This was not always caused by the physical transfer itself, but by activities around it, such as late information, unclear documentation, coordination between actors, or uncertainty about when the next step could begin. The thesis therefore proposes that quay meetings and documents should be prepared digitally before the vessel arrives, so that vessels occupy berths for a shorter period. It also proposes that delays and incidents should be recorded in more detail, making it easier to understand why waiting time occurs. These measures are intended to reduce avoidable waiting and improve the use of existing berth capacity. The thesis contributes to the understanding of how port terminals can improve operational efficiency when the main physical infrastructure is shared and difficult to expand.