Cope Levels in Modern Ports: A Case Study for the Port of Ngqura

Abstract

Nowadays, with the increasing climatic challenges, ports are beset with many uncertainties about their futures. They are confronted with new demands for infrastructure adaptation, new external constraints, and changed expectations. The inability to adequately meet these demands will lead to huge consequences for a port. This is mainly attributed to the fact that traditional practices of port planning have remained static in an ever-increasing dynamic world. Predicting the future using linear tools for complex non-linear systems is bound to fail. A new complex non-linear approach is needed. The complex nature of climate risks presents major difficulties for port infrastructure adaptation. Despite the availability of climate data at large, there is presently no provision for a port wide approach for assessing and incorporating these data into port adaptation. This paper proposes a methodology for determining cope levels in ports. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the methodology, the port of Ngqura is used as a case study. Central to this study is the building of widespread industry recognition of the need to factor climate change into decision making at early stages of port development.