Course overview
Ports and shipping networks depend on tightly coordinated vessel calls, cargo flows, terminal capacity, documentation and inland transport. Delays at berth, inaccurate cargo declarations, poor handovers between agents and terminals, and weak control of demurrage or detention can quickly increase cost and disrupt customers. Professionals need to understand how shipping lines, port authorities, terminal operators, freight forwarders, customs agencies and cargo owners work together.
This course examines the operational and commercial management of containerised, bulk, breakbulk and project cargo through ports. Participants learn to plan vessel calls, interpret shipping documents, manage port interfaces, calculate key performance indicators, control cargo risk and apply relevant maritime security, safety and dangerous-goods requirements. The programme also covers liner shipping economics, freight rate structures, terminal operations, hinterland planning, customs processes and disruption response.
Teaching combines concise instructor briefings with port-call cases, shipping documentation reviews, group planning tasks, operational simulations and structured application planning. Participants progressively build a port logistics management pack using realistic cargo, vessel, terminal and inland transport data. They leave with reusable planning templates, performance measures, risk controls and a completed end-to-end port logistics plan that can be adapted to their own operation.
The course is designed for professionals responsible for shipping, freight forwarding, port operations, cargo movement, procurement, trade logistics or supply-chain coordination. It is particularly relevant to organisations moving high-value, time-sensitive, regulated or project cargo through international ports.

