Container Terminal Operations and Cargo Dwell Time: A Dual Qualitative Approach

High cargo dwell times significantly hamper maritime supply chain efficiency, particularly in high-throughput West African ports. This study investigates the impact of operational practices specifically, berth allocation scheduling and container stacking design on cargo dwell time. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 171 operational professionals across Nigeria’s Apapa and Onne Ports. Participants, selected via stratified random sampling, included berth planners, yard coordinators, and logistics managers to ensure representation across technical domains. Data were collected using a validated 5-point Likert scale questionnaire and analysed using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The empirical findings reveal that both operational parameters exert a strong, statistically significant influence on cargo delays. Berth allocation scheduling showed a strong positive relationship with cargo dwell time (r = .77, p < .001), accounting for 59.3% of the variance in regression models. Notably, container stacking design emerged as the stronger predictor (r = .85, p < .001), explaining 73.8% of the variance in cargo delays. These results underscore the cascading interdependencies within terminal logistics, demonstrating that quayside inefficiencies may exacerbate yard bottlenecks. The study concludes that port authorities should move beyond isolated operational fixes. Transitioning from static to dynamic, real-time berth allocation models and implementing advanced, algorithm-driven container stacking frameworks warrant consideration. Integrating these critical operational nodes may help mitigate terminal congestion, reduce cargo dwell times, and enhance overall port competitiveness within global trade networks.