Analysis of Failure Modes and Port Disruptions in Port Terminal Operations: A Case Study in the Port Area of Barranquilla, Colombia

Abstract

Port operations experience high uncertainty in supply chains, and their importance in trade is significant since the sea carries out most global trade. Any disruptive event that strikes port facilities can affect local and national economies. This research studies a series of port disruptions with their respective failure modes based on a case study in the port of Barranquilla, Colombia. Then, the importance of these port disruptions is evaluated through a relational analysis of variables using the ISM methodology. Finally, we discuss real disruptive events that have occurred in Latin American ports. As a result, we find that hurricanes and terrorist acts are the events that have the greatest potential to affect port activities, and transportation failure is the most frequent failure type.