SUSTAINABLE SMART PORT DEVELOPMENT: HOW TO CREATE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO THAI PORTS AND DEVELOPING TO BE GREEN AND SMART PORT

Abstract Global ports and maritime shipping industry are important carriers for global supply chain networks. While modern seaports have a significant role in supply chain for the competitiveness of each country in terms of smart and green. Ports have been specially challenged during the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 pandemic. The research reveals that green and smart port is major driven to survive in intense competition in global dynamic changes. The key to improving the sustainability of the shipping industry lies in green and smart port initiatives. Ports worldwide are feeling the heed to become environmentally friendly, whether by transitioning to Net Zero Carbon, reducing emissions, or operating more efficiently and sustainably. This paper explores current status of Thai ports, and future direction of seaport and maritime transport in next decade. It studies role of seaports, especially Thai port to drive economic growth and to create national competitiveness. It also examines what factors influencing to future port development. It studies how port can adapt and survive sustainably in global changes and disruptions. To achieve the objectives, the study collects data in three dimensions, literature review is primarily conducted in issues related with ports’ role in maritime transport and shipping industry, how to become smart port in global changes. What is future direction of smart port development. Secondly, survey method is used to examine issues and relationships between studying variables. Finally, in-depth interview is conducted to obtain more deep information from port user, port provider and port regulator. The population consisted of 90 companies in Thailand. Deploying random stratified sampling, questionnaires are distributed to 110 companies. After a month, there are 90 questionnaires returned with 81.8 per cent response rate. The result shows that there is a positive relationship between green and smart port strategy and management (X) and port effectiveness and efficiency, and sustainable growth (Y). Developing port to be green and smart port, it increasingly provides port effectiveness and efficiency, and increasing sustainable growth. It also reveals that there is a relationship between green and smart port strategy and management (X) and technological changes and disruptions (Z). It is based on hypothesis that green and smart port strategy and management would be adapted consistent with technological changes and disruptions. Further research is recommended to close the future gap.