C
Publish and Present
Matt Trowbridge, P.E., S.E., P.Eng.
Senior Waterfront Structural Engineer
Moffatt & Nichol
Long Beach, California
Rob Sloop, P.E.
Senior Waterfront Project Manager
Moffatt & Nichol
Long Beach, California
Robert Nathan, P.E.
Principal
Moffatt & Nichol
Tampa, Florida
Ports around the world are facing rapid market influences on the fundamental factors that have traditionally made them profitable. Both long and short-term trends in consumer demands, shipping trends, environmental restrictions, property values, stakeholder support, and governmental policy have driven many ports to diversify their business models to provide alternatives to the traditional supply-chain economics – many of which see the port as a real estate development partner or leaseholder. Identification of the drivers, opportunities, and constraints associated with these trends should provide ports, investors, planners, designers, and communities with a new awareness of the potential alternative revenue and benefit streams for their local port facilities. This paper examines why some ports have evolved away from their traditional cargo-related revenue streams towards real estate leasing and development. Opportunities, drivers, barriers, and constraints will be presented, as well as case studies from major ports on the East and West coasts of the United States (US).