As a result of close working relationships with port owners and operators, Halcrow understands the commercial pressures on ports and recognises the need to optimise port capacity at minimum capital cost. Demanding challenges face the owners and operators of today's ports such as:

	limited availability of land for expansion
	constantly changing cargo handling technology
	constantly changing regulatory frameworks
	privatisation
	changing markets and commodities
	downward pressure on costs
	demands for higher returns
	environmental impacts and pollution control

Halcrow is able to provide comprehensive planning services for port development which address these needs. This is achieved by tailoring the full range of multi-disciplinary management and technical expertise which is available within the firm to suit the particular needs of the client.

Forecasting demand

Traffic forecasts
Halcrow prepares traffic forecasts for exports and imports by major commodity from an understanding of the local economy, the industries generating port traffic flows and their expectations; planned national economic growth; and regional or national initiatives. Sensitivity analyses are carried out with for example high and low growth scenarios.

Halcrow has experience in analysing port cargo throughput and ship movements, competitor surveys and analysis, estimation of the economic potential of port hinterlands in terms of population, income and industrial and agricultural production and socio-economic growth of the region; review and analysis of transport systems and modal split. review of national and local economies, and evaluation of growth initiatives.

Simulation Modelling and Operational Studies Halcrow maintains state-of-the-art computer simulation models such as HE35 and HIPPOS2. These may be used to determine optimum port capacity, identify operational improvements to maximise the efficiency of port operations, and assess alternative development strategies.

Cargo handling equipment
Halcrow's mechanical engineers have a wide range of experience of the performance, specification and operation of many types of cargo handling equipment from the latest super post-panamax quayside container cranes, RTGs, ship loaders/unloaders, conveyors, stackers and reclaimers to mobile cranes and FLTs.

Management and organisation studies
Halcrow is able to call upon experts in port operations, engineering and management with hands on experience of the ports industry. Halcrow has also experience of port management information systems and has developed a system for use by ports. This expertise may be called upon to review port operations and management practices to identify any physical and institutional constraints on the port's efficiency and recommend improvements. This includes the provision of advice and recommendations on port operations and operating practices, port management structure and organisation, port statutes and regulations and potential areas for privatisation.

Development Alternatives
Assessment of the capacity of existing facilities by type and alongside depth based on efficient and optimum capacity utilisation. Halcrow utilises a number of computer models to determine optimum port capacity, identify operational improvements to maximise the efficiency of port operations, define the scope of additional facilities and/or alterations to existing facilities required to meet the forecast demand. These include the ESCAP Port Planning Model and HE35 and HIPPOS2 simulation models.

Evaluation of Alternatives
Halcrow has comprehensive expertise in the preparation of outline designs and cost estimates for marine facilities and port infrastructure, economic and financial analyses, risk analysis and environmental impact assessments.

Financial and Economic Analysis
Halcrow possesses in-house models which may be used for the financial and economic evaluation of development scenarios. The economic benefits of a project such as savings in ship waiting time and service time costs are identified on the basis of with and without project comparisons.

Environmental impact assessments

Halcrow has extensive experience in the identification of environmental impacts and mitigation measures and the preparation of environmental management and monitoring plans for marine works. Halcrow has developed state-of-the-art computer software to mathematically model waves, currents, sediment transport and waste dispersion to assess environmental impacts both during and post-construction.

Experience includes investigations for contaminated sediments, the study of water pollution from dredging and reclamation works, disposal of dredged spoil, impact on the ecology, fisheries and land use of water pollution or land erosion. Expertise also covers risk assessment and emergency response measures related to the transportation of hazardous materials, the social impacts of relocation, resettlement and compensation issues.

Phased master plan

The outcome of port planning studies is usually the preparation of a phased development master plan for the port. Halcrow has considerable experience in the preparation of phased (short, medium and long term) development master plans including land use plans. These form the basis for the identification and phasing of projects for future implementation.

Halcrow's experience extends to the preparation of development, business and operational plans including project promotion and funding arrangements. For project implementation, programmes and action plans may be drawn up within a logical framework to address and implement the necessary infrastructure, organisational and institutional changes.

Halcrow maritime

Halcrow has been a leading international multi-disciplinary consultant firm for over 130years. It was founded as a ports practice and has remained at the forefront of port planning and engineering, coastal management and the modelling of coastal processes. Halcrow Maritime has over 100 specialist maritime staff including project managers, port planners, port engineers, coastal engineers, coastal scientists, port simulation experts, numerical modellers and GIS analysts. It is supported by economists, environmental scientists, geologists and geotechnical engineers, transportation planners, business planning and finance experts and contract specialists from within the Halcrow Group.

Halcrow's maritime expertise covers data collection and analysis, studies, planning, design, project management, mathematical and simulation modelling, construction supervision and management, and monitoring for the following:

Ports

	breakwaters
	dredging, reclamation and ground improvement
	quays, wharfs and jetties
	container terminals
	general cargo and multi-purpose berths
	liquid and dry bulks terminals
	shipyards and dry docks
	cruise ship, ferry and Ro-Ro terminals
	naval bases
	fishing harbours
	marinas and small harbours
	port infrastructure including roads and pavements, bridges, buildings, water and power supply, sewerage and communications
	port privatisation
	pollution and water quality control
	safety management systems

Coastal

	coastal developments
	sea defences
	shoreline and integrated coastal zone management
	environmental improvement projects
	intakes and outfalls
	offshore structures
	geographical information systems
	research and development projects

Halcrow Maritime
Burderop Park
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN4 0QD
United Kingdom