Reducing the Environmental Impact of Quayside Cranes on Neighboring Communities

by Arun Bhimani, Mark Sisson, and Catherine Morris
Presented by Arun Bhimani and Bob Johansen at the Ports 2004 Conference in Houston, Texas

The continuing growth of marine container terminals is causing increasing environmental concerns among neighboring communities. The increasing container volumes have resulted in increased truck traffic and larger and faster container handling equipment. The higher truck traffic has raised concerns about diesel fumes and traffic congestion. The larger cranes have raised concerns about noise levels and visual impact. The increase in number and size of the cranes and the encroachment of the terminals and the neighboring communities on each other exacerbate the problem.

This presentation examines the environmental impact of the ever-increasing size of dockside container cranes on neighboring communities and presents potential solutions to reduce the impact.