Sustainable container terminal operations: the case of the port of Lithuania

This paper analyses the activities of a marine container terminal to assess the integration of sustainability principles in container storage, handling and service processes.This study aims to identify measures that would facilitate more sustainable operations in container terminals, to minimise their adverse impact on the environment.The empirical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, document analysis and internal company operational documents.The results of the study showed that sustainable operations at the terminal include pollution abatement measures, infrastructure improvements, efficient use of storage areas, and the management of hazardous and temperature-sensitive cargoes per environmental standards.The main operational challenges were found to be related to the lack of storage space, ageing machinery and limited staff training to work with upgraded systems.The paper makes recommendations to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the terminal's operations by applying innovative technologies and enhancing staff skills.