Port Operations Advisory & Maritime Solutions for Resilient, Future-Ready Ports

Ports face significant challenges in operating efficiently and securely within an ever-changing environment. To mitigate risks and ensure smooth integration with the logistics value chain, it is crucial to implement proactive measures. Additionally, safeguarding against emerging threats, such as climate change, is becoming an increasingly urgent concern worldwide. Evaluating the effectiveness and responsiveness of a port's risk mitigation strategies requires a well-defined and comprehensive approach to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience. 

Addressing risk management in port operations and infrastructure involves addressing a variety of challenges to ensure smooth and secure functioning. Our risk assessments look across your entire operations to identify risk to efficiency, security, regulatory, and resilience, ensuring your operations remain a vital hub in the global supply chain. 

• Comprehensive risk management protocol for both foreseeable and unforeseen risks. 
• Maritime Resilience in Community Impact and Critical Infrastructure study to empower all stakeholders to adapt and thrive in today’s ever-changing climate. 
• Operational Resilience and Navigation Safety study 
• Environmental Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance Advisory Services 
• Tailored solutions to challenges including extreme weather, natural disasters, urbanisation, aging infrastructure, energy and supply chain complexities. 

Ensuring optimal port performance, maximizing value through improved turnaround times, efficient berth occupancy, and effective resource allocation is crucial for attracting and retaining customers. 

To reduce operating costs while maintaining efficient governance and reliability, ports must prioritize automation. However, achieving this goal-along with addressing common challenges in balancing operational efficiency, sustainability, and compliance with short- and long-term ESG targets-requires a strategic approach. Aligning both sea and shore operations with modern infrastructure demands calls for a knowledgeable partner to navigate the complexities of these evolving industry needs. 

Our team of experts provides a strategic approach for optimal port performance as a combination of efficiency, reliability, and value. We work with you to identify solutions that have the added value you need to navigate the challenges of regulatory policies, operating cost, environmentally friendly & long-term operations, and meticulous digital solutions. Dedicated partnership to drive performance, productivity, and success.

• Ports Master Plan development & logistics analysis  
• Port planning assessment for consideration of operations in a green corridor 
• Workforce Development and Safety Culture training: Prepare port staff to be capable to operate efficiently 
• Traffic optimisation services that harmonize maritime traffic. Alignment port shore and in-land operations  
• Capacity sustainability assessments, bottlenecks, congestion management & expansion assessment  
• Digital assessment & automation strategy  
• Optimising processes, strategically allocating resources and integrating advanced technologies such as Port Management Information Systems 

A port's attractiveness isn't just about efficiency, reliability, and value. Advanced technology and strategic positioning on major trade routes also play a crucial role. However, ports face significant challenges in maintaining their attractiveness and commercial competitiveness. Navigating complex financial landscapes, securing investments, and managing Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are critical. Additionally, ports must effectively handle transactions related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestments.   

Our expert team provides insights into financial structuring, procurement of project finance, investment/divestment, and Merger & Acquisition assistance for port operations and infrastructure, helping you build a secure long-term investment portfolio. Our financial advisory services are designed to address these challenges, providing expert guidance and strategic solutions to ensure sustainable growth and operational efficiency.  

• Expert guidance in financial structuring, procurement of project finance, investment / divestment, and Merger & Acquisition assistance including post -merger and acquisition integration planning and support
• Design and audit support for Cost-Benefit Analyses and Multi-Criteria Analyses  
• Process guidance through Public-Private Partnerships in port development, regulatory framework, funding strategies and contract negotiations  
• Pre-transaction due diligence (technical, financial, operational, and commercial)
• Target identification and screening
• Due diligence for CAPEX in energy transition and smart infrastructure  
• Advisory on green financing and sustainability-linked bonds  
• Comprehensive feasibility studies to evaluate market, technical, economic viability and bankability  
• Advise on complexities of port transactions, including competitive tenders and concession agreements   

A ports attractiveness goes beyond offering a combination of efficiency, reliability, and value. Identifying the right investment decisions, technical solutions, operational adjustments, and regulatory impacts of clean energy systems required for competitive ROI requires insights. The port industry is transitioning to sustainable and decarbonized operations in response to increasing global pressure to reduce emissions and embrace greener practices. Stricter environmental regulations to reduce carbon footprint needs alignment.  

Ports' capabilities are attractive to influence investment decisions and understand the best sustainable solutions for transitioning the energy systems to meet carbon neutral and net zero targets whilst keeping up with the demands of increased maritime traffic, evolving shipping technologies, and global competition, can hinder growth and overall economic impact. 

Today's operations must include advanced technology, superior customer service, and a strategic location to major trade routes.  

Our team of experts offer guidance in selecting the best investments and technical solutions for decarbonising port operations and infrastructure. If you are looking to evolve sustainably while expanding your service offerings to attract environmentally conscious partners in the maritime industry, we can help you to improve and enable a longer-term sustainability and energy transition position.​ 

• Safe and Future-Ready Fuel Bunkering Operations Assessment
• Alternative fuels feasibility, safety, and marine operations studies
• Scalable energy transition and decarbonization strategies
• ESG Strategy & Reporting
• Green port infrastructure consultancy (e.g. CCS, OPS, P2X, nuclear)
• Port planning for clean energy facilities (e.g. wind, green bunkering) 

It is well established that the ultimate responsibility for the safe and civilised operation of a ship lies with the owner, aided by the flag administration and classification society. Ports as shipowners face the added challenge to have a compliant, fit-for-purpose and decarbonized fleet. Questions around ensuring fleet compatible with evolving port operations in terms of decarbonisation, energy transition and digitalisation, and the impact of future investments for energy efficiency, decarbonization, future port compatibility, and smart fleets is daunting.   

As shipowners, ports face challenges with regulatory change, technical readiness and maturity levels and economic viability, driven by the energy transition. 

Our Class and Statutory compliance expertise is industry leading amongst the port owned segment. Using our deep knowledge of vessels across their lifecycle we can inform on strategic decisions and maximise returns on vessel investments.  

We can offer a full range of services: 

• Our LR Advisory, Classification and Statutory and Digital services cover across all types of vessels operated by ports, with a focus on tug design, construction and operations. 
• Our Advisory Services, as well as our rule sets ensure long-term asset viability. 
• Solution-based service offerings integrating Advisory, Class & Statutory and Digital capabilities and expertise. 
• A wide range of digital services to ensure vessel management and operations are compliant, efficient and optimized. 
• A full range of globally-provided Classification services to assure safety and fitness for purpose through our Rules & Regulations and other Guidance document 
• A full range of globally-provided Statutory services as a Recognised Organisation for most of the world’s Flag Administrations to assure regulatory compliance. 

Port State Control (PSC) inspections are the medium port States use to protect themselves from sub-standard ships visiting their ports. PSC officers check on foreign ships visiting national ports to verify their compliance with International conventions on safety, pollution prevention and seafarers’ living and working conditions.

Contacting us to arrange a surveyor to attend your ship is the first step. Our surveyors will support the Master, who will verify the justification for the deficiencies raised; they will ensure all measures are taken to rectify deficiencies and will work to get the ship released by the port State authorities if the ship has been detained. 

Our classification rules and regulations do require ship owners and ship operators to inform LR when a ship has been detained, but we do recommend a surveyor is called in to assist with any Port State Control intervention. It can be a very stressful situation for the Master and crew of a ship, and the support of one of our experienced surveyors will help make that situation easier and ensure a smooth departure from the port without delays.

Our services and support also include Maritime Training – offering practical approaches to Port State Control and useful tools, such as our Port State Control pocket checklist app that brings together all ships’ checklists into one place.  

Our services to support Port State Control