Port logistics and port strategy in structural transformation

Port strategies for port logistics secure the role of inland ports and terminals as multimodal logistics hubs despite changing freight structures. They supply their regions with goods and bundle traffic from different modes of transport.

At the same time, ports are faced with many conflicts such as land use conflicts, infrastructure and emissions Future strategies for each port location create transparency regarding freight volumes, customer structures, and logistics services. The Fraunhofer institute for Material Flow and Logistics analyzes these factors, develops port strategies, and formulates recommendations for action to ensure that ports remain efficient. 

Transport, handling and storage form the operational framework for inland ports and while a good port strategy provides a long-term orientation. The port locations function as hubs for combined transport and as suppliers to the region. Changing freight structures, conflicts of use, and infrastructure problems relating to water levels, railways, and roads increase the need for coordination between land use, transport infrastructure, and technical equipment. Attractive sites with direct access to water are scarce and often compete with alternative uses such as residential, commercial, or leisure.

Strategic guidelines support decisions on which commodaity groups, quantities, and services a port location should serve in the future. They organize the available space and form the basis for port development plans that support the future-oriented design of logistics areas in the port and its surroundings. Our institute uses analyses of freight volumes, transport flows, and cooperation options to formulate reliable decision-making bases and prioritized recommendations for action for port operators and public actors. 

Our teams of experts provide targeted support to decision-makers in port management:

• Development of sustainable future strategies for inland ports
• Analysis of cooperation opportunities between port locations
• Review of funding opportunities and advice on port infrastructure funding
• Designing a green port strategy with new energy sources
• Market and business field analyses of transport flows and modal split
• Preparation of port development plans and feasibility studies
• Optimisation of terminals and ports through process and bottleneck analyses

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Our research institution develops port strategies that accurately reflect volume structures, customer portfolios, and logistics services in inland ports. We combine analyses of land use and transport infrastructure in ports with studies of technical equipment and handling technology, such as crane systems and track occupancy. Teams of experts examine opportunities for cooperation between inland ports and terminals, identify potential synergies, and design more efficient transport networks. Against the backdrop of increasing individualisation of supply chains and ongoing urbanisation, transport networks must be designed to be particularly efficient and resource-saving.

Our teams of experts accompany funding projects from the identification of suitable programs to the submission of applications, thus securing investments in digitization and port infrastructure funding.

For the sustainable development of inland ports, we are developing a Green Port Strategy that integrates renewable energies, low-emission modes of transport, and waste management systems to limit the ecological footprint of port operations.  In addition to renewable energies and low-emission modes of transport, this also includes measures to reduce noise and dust emissions in port operations.

"A good port strategy provides clarity about future freight structures, prioritized land use, and necessary infrastructure measures, and forms the basis for sound investment decisions in inland ports."
Maximiliane Lorenz conducts research on multimodal logistics at Fraunhofer IML.

When developing sustainable competitive advantages, Fraunhofer IML combines market and business field analyses with optimization projects in port logistics. Analyses of global and national transport flows show which industries and volumes a location can develop and how the modal split of a region is shifting.

Port development plans organise these findings spatially and take alternative areas and transport connections into account. Terminal and port optimisations identify bottlenecks, improve traffic control across all modes of transport, and use crane optimization or track occupancy planning to improve the utilization of handling technology.

The development of green ports strengthens the energy transition in ports, as renewable energies and low-emission means of transport reduce the ecological footprint without diminishing the economic performance of the location.

Optimization of global logistics and supply chains

Optimal-LOADS uses data generation, DataSpaces, and AI services to strengthen the optimization of global logistics and supply chains in seaport hinterland transport.

The detailed topic page explains the Gaia-X-based data infrastructure, addresses heterogeneous data formats and unstable connections, and outlines the benefits and goals for more efficient, environmentally friendly port processes.

German project page on Optimal Loads

KIRBI – AI shunting processes in inland ports

Digital, AI-supported shunting processes in inland ports address increasing freight flows and aim to achieve more efficient, lower-emission transport logistics.

The KIRBI project combines sensor technology, existing systems, and AI services to provide data-driven recommendations for action. The linked topic page explains the project's goals, partner roles, and evaluation approach.

Kirbi project page in German

Digitization of inland ports

Digital technologies, data-based AI, and automation are paving the way for AI-supported shunting processes in inland ports, shortening throughput times, and reducing emissions.

This topic page brings together Fraunhofer IML's offerings, from digital twins, sensor technology, and data spaces to AI services for inland waterway transport and port railways, and explains them in depth.

Project page in German

Baden-Württemberg port strategy research project

The Baden-Württemberg Port Strategy strengthens the role of inland ports on the Rhine, Neckar, and Main rivers in climate-neutral freight transport and responds to declining transport volumes on waterways in the 2040 Federal Transport Forecast.

The topic page outlines the approach, work packages, freight flow analyses, and transformation paths for politics, the port industry, and logistics companies, and brings together in-depth information on the project.

About the project

Are you planning in-depth analyses of port logistics and port strategy? Fraunhofer IML supports you with studies, feasibility analyses, and recommendations for action on future strategies, green ports, and the optimization of terminals and ports.

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