NEWARK, N.J., July 22, 2013 — JOC Group Inc. today announced the launch of the Port Productivity database, the first global, apples-to-apples measurement of container port performance. JOC Group is the leading global media focused on container shipping and international logistics.

The database, which was five years in development, was created to help elevate what for several years have been stagnant overall productivity levels in the container port industry, according to ports and carriers. Based on data provided by a majority of the world’s largest container lines, the database measures container lifts per hour achieved at ports and marine terminals worldwide. Moves per hour, or MPH, is a basic indicator of how quickly ships are loaded, unloaded and sent back to sea to continue their service rotations. The quicker ships are turned around at port, the greater the opportunity for carriers to reduce fuel costs by “slow steaming” their vessels while staying on schedule. Slow steaming reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, while allowing carriers to absorb excess capacity. Vessel turnaround at the berth is also a factor in how quickly cargo is discharged from the port and sent to onward destinations, thus relevant to effective logistics and broader facilitation of trade.

The detailed data behind the rankings of top ports and terminals is available for purchase through PIERS, a JOC Group company. Download the whitepaper describing the data in detail at joc.com/ppwp. A webcast with Andrew Penfold and Dean Davison of Ocean Shipping Consultants will be held Sept. 5, at 11 a.m EDT. To register, visit joc.com/ppwebcast.

“The database has a basic overall goal, which is to foster discussion and analysis that will lead to higher port productivity worldwide,” said Peter Tirschwell, JOC Group exec. vice president/chief content officer. “With ships getting larger and trade growing, productivity needs to be improved to avoid bottlenecks and excess cost in the international supply chain.”

This data provides carriers, ports, marine terminals, investors and others with an interest in container ports to compare productivity in detail within a specific port, country, region or among similar entities, revealing opportunities for improvement. The database is an ongoing project that is being expanded through participation by additional carriers and inclusion of additional data elements.

Major carriers supporting the Port Productivity project include: APL, China Shipping, CMA-CGM, COSCO, CSAV, Emirates, Evergreen, Hamburg Sud, Hapag-Lloyd, Hanjin, Hyundai Merchant Marine, MSC, Maersk, OOCL, United Arab and Zim. The 2012 data contains submissions from 17 carriers representing more than 70 percent of the global fleet in deployed capacity according to the Alphaliner rankings. The 2012 Top 20 rankings of terminals and ports in the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia are based on berth productivity defined by total number of container lifts between a ship’s berth arrival and departure time, drawn from 87,000 validated vessel calls to 350 ports and 580 terminals worldwide.

For commercial inquiries, visit joc.com/port_productivity. For editorial coverage, visit joc.com/special-topics/port-productivity.

SOME OF THE SUPPORTING CARRIERS:

About JOC Group Inc.: JOC Group Inc. is the authoritative provider of business intelligence, data and events for trade, transportation and logistics professionals worldwide. Through its PIERS database and leading JOC coverage of transportation online and in print, JOC Group Inc. provides customers with critical insights, data-rich intelligence and tools to compete effectively in the global marketplace. For further information, please visit www.joc.com/group.

JOC Group Inc. is part of the AXIO Data Group, owned by Electra Partners, an independent private equity fund manager with more than 30 years' experience in the mid-market. For further information please visit www.electrapartners.com.