{"id":5274,"date":"2025-10-21T15:58:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T20:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/?p=5274"},"modified":"2026-08-11T21:16:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:16:49","slug":"beyond-the-bottleneck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aapaseaports.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/21\/beyond-the-bottleneck\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Bottleneck"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Feature<\/div>\n
Building Resilient and Diversified Supply Chains<\/div>\n
By Lori Musser<\/span><\/div>\n
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Shipment of Perishable Fruit, Port of Gulfport<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

W<\/span>hen things go very wrong, we learn. We analyze, plan, and adapt. Following the logistical chaos of the peak COVID years, companies and their supply chains realized that change was needed. They came to understand that diversified and resilient supply chains are fundamental to managing risk, maintaining operational efficiency, and staying in the black.<\/p>\n

When it comes to building diversity and resiliency into supply chains, a seaport plays two roles. As a business, it wants to ensure that assets and operations are resilient, revenue streams are diversified, and that its range of suppliers is sufficient to overcome disruptions. As a transportation hub and supply chain participant, a seaport wants to provide customers with alternatives that enhance the resiliency of the customer\u2019s end-to-end cargo movements.<\/p>\n

Diversification to Mitigate Risks<\/h2>\n

Diversification that decreases dependency on a single source, supplier, route, or region will help reduce risks associated with disruptions. Companies with more resilient supply chains are more likely to adapt quickly to natural disasters, new tariffs, driver shortages, etc., and be successful.<\/p>\n

Juliana Marler is CEO of the Port of Vancouver USA. She said, \u201cIn sectors across the globe, \u2018uncertainty\u2019 seems to be a concern we hear more frequently. Getting product to market shouldn\u2019t contribute to those concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Port of Vancouver USA has a longterm strategic commitment to pursue diverse cargoes in order to maximize economic benefits. That means continuing to invest in infrastructure, systems, and people, even when times are tough, to \u201cbe in a position to remain a reliable gateway for global supply chains in a variety of circumstances,\u201d said Marler.<\/p>\n

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Port of Gulfport, Mississippi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When container ports were experiencing severe congestion during the height of the pandemic, Vancouver was able to lean on their robust infrastructure and offer an alternative entry point for commodities that could be de-containerized. \u201cSupply chains benefited as a result,\u201d said Marler.<\/p>\n

Port of Gulfport, Mississippi, is one of the most diverse ports on the Gulf. Its lines of business range from containers and fruit to military cargo and casinos. That level of diversity, said CEO and Executive Director John Nass, can be a ticket to success. \u201cDiversified cargoes and activities create heavily diversified revenue streams,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For its customers, \u201cGulfport is an important alternative to other ports that are growing too fast or that have gotten congested. We are open for business now. We offer more personalized service to carriers. Dole has been with us for 60 years for a reason. We give customers true southern hospitality,\u201d and help customize solutions for their needs, said Nass.<\/p>\n

Keeping Costs in Line<\/h2>\n

In a recent article published by Maersk, entitled, \u201c5 reasons to implement supply chain diversification\u201d the leading carrier said diversified supply chains can help manage cost while introducing scalability and flexibility. Maersk said, \u201cHaving multiple suppliers can lead to better pricing through competition and visibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is always a cost associated with cargo delays and disruptions. A more resilient supply chain is one that avoids costly delays.<\/p>\n

Revitalizing after Catastrophe<\/h2>\n

Port of Gulfport is perhaps uniquely qualified to talk about supply chain resiliency. Almost exactly 20 years ago, a catastrophic storm called Hurricane Katrina hit Gulfport and 28 feet of water wiped it off the face of the earth, Nass said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a risk ports on the Gulf face. The port was devastated, but we made lemonade out of that lemon,\u201d Nass said.<\/p>\n

With considerable support, the port was rebuilt. This time around, it was built with resiliency and durability in mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are now very much prepared. We prepared with infrastructure, with systems, with back-ups. We collaborate with agencies, first responders, inland yards, tenants, and others. We plan,\u201d said Nass.<\/p>\n

Responding to the Market<\/h2>\n

When a hurricane hit Florida last year, Gulfport showcased the value of flexibility. It was able to unload perishable fruit from a carrier that was on its way to Florida, allowing the cargo to be trucked to market while the cargo was still fresh. While helping carriers manage their risk might be all in a day\u2019s work for Gulfport, not every port would have the infrastructure and capacity to do so.<\/p>\n

Markets are fickle. Fortunately, companies that employ diverse supply chains may be able to respond more quickly to customer needs or take advantage of emerging opportunities.<\/p>\n

Marler said that her port is a new alternative for certain customers. The port\u2019s location on the northern U.S. West Coast and on global shipping routes is a draw. “The Columbia River offers the most direct route from Canada to Asia and the Pacific Rim, and the Port of Vancouver USA\u2019s location on the river and connection to the West Coast\u2019s major highways and Class 1 rail offer efficiency and convenience to shippers and businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the thing that makes her port stand out is something more than offering the right kind of connectivity, or state-of-the-art facilities; it is an institutionalized focus on building solid customer relationships. \u201cOur dedicated team helps customers navigate business finance, regulatory, and community dynamics,\u201d she said, and added, \u201cOur goal is to be as nimble as possible, capable of maximizing opportunities and navigating through disruptions to remain a leading portal for the supply chain on the U.S. West Coast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nearshoring for Resilience<\/h2>\n

Many industries are drawn to nearshoring to build resiliency into their supply chains. Recent tariff uncertainties have added value and urgency to the concept. Seaports that are ready to leverage market developments like this can attract cargo and be part of a more resilient supply chain for customers.<\/p>\n

Nass said Gulfport is incredibly well poised to assist with nearshoring. With a 2.5-day sailing from Mexico and speedy inland connections, \u201cWe can help get cargo from Mexico to Chicago in four days. In the past, that was practically unheard of,\u201d said Nass.<\/p>\n

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Port of Gulfport Warehouse<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Renowned economist John Martin of Pennsylvania-based Martin Associates confirmed nearshoring can provide valuable advantages within supply chains for American companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cGulf coast ports, and even east coast ports, will have greater opportunity. It is usually much less expensive to bring cargo into these ports than to cross land borders, and some ports have a good backhaul market by water,\u201d said Martin. He named Miami, Gulfport, Tampa, Manatee, Pascagoula, and Houston, among others, as ports that have noticeable nearshoring cost advantages for cargo moving by water rather than by truck or rail.<\/p>\n

Going Greener<\/h2>\n

Diversity and sustainability can be partners in a supply chain. Different suppliers have different levels of environmental commitment. Diversified supply chains can be more sustainable.<\/p>\n

In a widely referenced 2018 study by Nielsen, 81% of consumers from around the world said they felt strongly about companies implementing environmental initiatives. Cargo owners and supply chain members have taken note. Most global companies now recognize that eco-friendly practices can help save costs while enhancing corporate citizenship and brand reputation.<\/p>\n

Getting Innovative<\/h2>\n

Nurturing data-driven decision making, technology, and innovations improves supply chains, Marler said. \u201cOur port works diligently to keep up on what\u2019s happening in the markets, and that means we invest in obtaining market intelligence data so we can anticipate possible changes and shifts as early as possible \u2014 and reposition as necessary,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

That might dictate investment in new technologies, like the port\u2019s shore power, or its zero-emission mobile harbor cranes, or its new Enterprise Resource Planning system, which will unify port operations information on one platform, providing instant visibility into cargo, lease, and operational data. \u201cWe\u2019ll be able to coordinate more efficiently with tenants, shippers, and logistics partners. We\u2019ll also be positioned to make informed decisions on service pricing and commodity diversification,\u201d Marler said.<\/p>\n

Bottlenecks are Nobody\u2019s Friend<\/h2>\n

Diversified, resilient supply chains support long-term growth by ensuring stability and adaptability in changing markets. They make it easier to manage risks, cut costs, respond to the vagaries of global markets, promote sustainability, and foster innovation.<\/p>\n