Newton Fund Institutional Links success story
90 per cent of Vietnam's imports and exports are handled via maritime logistics. But the industry is hampered by high logistical costs (a staggering 25 per cent of GDP), low performance (ranked 64th gobally) and high maritime emissions (causing 600 deaths per year).
Supported by a Newton Fund Institutional Links grant, led by Dr. Trung Thanh Nguyen at Liverpool John Moores University, the UK-Vietnam logistics network has brought together 18 organisations to develop new information and communication technology products to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. So far, five products have been tested on real data and/or real scenarios from industries seeking to improve efficiencies on fleet sizing, berth planning, vessel stowage planning, port simulation and container stacking.
The joint project has economic and environmental benefits for Vietnam and the UK. For example, test results showed that the new container stacking software can potentially decrease cargo handling expenses by 23 per cent in a port. This would reduce up to 11.7 per cent of carbon monoxide, 5.5 per cent of nitrogen oxides and 4.6 per cent of carbon dioxide port emissions, based on the carbon footprint of a Vietnam port. The collaboration between the UK and Vietnam has also helped to build strong links between businesses in both countries including Mersey Maritime and AECOM.
"The project helps to reduce the effects of port operations to the environment, human health and climate change of the city." Mr Vu Dai Thang, Deputy Director, Department of Science & Technology, Haiphong.