Global Port Infrastructure Sufficiency Index (PISI)

In 2019, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), supported by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea ‎‎(MOF), initiated a collaborative effort to advance the work on port performance measurement. ‎The aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a global port infrastructure sufficiency index and ‎associated metrics that could be easily implemented and widely accepted by global ports and ‎terminals.‎

KMI and MOF have elaborated the PISI to help evaluate port infrastructure sufficiency ‎worldwide, with a special focus on container ports and terminals. The proposed index is ‎articulated around quantitative and qualitative factors and is designed to be simple and user-friendly. It will serve as a research tool and a port management instrument that can help ‎governments, ports and other relevant stakeholders refine their understanding of port ‎performance and ways in which it can be improved.

Drawing upon its established expertise in maritime ‎transport, UNCTAD is contributing to these efforts. For over five decades, UNCTAD has been working with developing countries to ‎enhance their maritime transport and trade performance. Building on its research and ‎analysis, intergovernmental machinery, technical assistance and capacity-building work, ‎UNCTAD also leverages its extensive datasets on maritime transport as well as its annual Review of ‎Maritime Transport (RMT).

UNCTAD considers that a workable PISI will help close a persistent ‎data and information gap in port performance management and serve as a policy tool that ‎informs relevant decisions, policies, and actions.  

Objectives of the project

 Provide KMI with technical advisory and convening services to elaborate a global Port Infrastructure Sufficiency Index to help fill data gaps, support research, and generate policy tools to inform decisions and policies about port performance across three dimensions:

1. Punctuality (vessel time/vessel turnaround time), which assesses the sufficiency of the seaside infrastructure,
2. Safety and Security, including infrastructure, facilities, and equipment, and
3. Digitalization, ICT infrastructure capabilities and yard- and gate-related infrastructure.

Activities

The development of the Global Port Infrastructure Sufficiency Index (PISI) will be supported by the following key elements:

• A PISI Questionnaire
• A first report presenting the main results of PISI Survey (Phase 2).
• A second report presenting the main results of the PISI Survey (Phase 3)
• A final version of the Port Infrastructure Sufficiency Index
• Communication and implementation plans

Intended Outcomes

• Advance global efforts on port performance measurement and close a persistent data gap in this field.
• Support the development of a global port infrastructure sufficiency index and associated metrics
• Acquire greater insights into port performance measurement and gain a better understanding of their port infrastructure service sufficiency of ports and terminals.

Link to the SDGs

• SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
• SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
• SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Interim and final progress reports are prepared.

• Documents
• Events & meetings