Efficient Logistics Hubs Are Crucial for Fast, Seamless, and Sustainable Cargo Flow With increasing demands and stronger competition, ports and terminals are becoming more critical than ever. We spoke with Kristian Løvaas, CEO of Westport, about what it takes to create lasting value for customers and businesses.
Efficient logistics hubs are essential for the value chain’s fast, seamless, and sustainable cargo flow. With rising business demands and growing competition from other transport modes, ports and terminals play a key role in logistics.
We aim to be an extension of our customers’ operations, ensuring that goods flow efficiently at the lowest possible cost. Sustainability and competitiveness must be carefully balanced, and close collaboration is the key to success.
Kristian Løvaas, CEO of Westport
Kristian Løvaas has extensive experience building and operating terminals that create customer value. He emphasizes that efficient logistics go beyond physical infrastructure. Customer focus, collaboration, and a long-term perspective on efficiency and technology are key to creating lasting value and ensuring the competitiveness of maritime transport in the future market.
-First and foremost, it’s about being an extended arm for our customers. The terminal must be where cargo volumes flow efficiently, with minimal intermediaries and costs. One of our primary goals is to reduce the total costs for cargo owners, making sea transport a natural choice in competition with other alternatives.”
As the requirements for zero emissions increase, maintaining a balance between sustainability and competitiveness becomes increasingly delicate. “We are proud to be Norway’s first fossil-free container port, but we recognize that increased costs mean we must do more on other fronts to maintain attractiveness compared to road transport. Careful planning and close cooperation with customers and the port are essential for success,” says Løvaas.
“FORMULA 1 PIT-STOP”
-Cost-effective operations revolve around fast throughput and optimal resource utilization. “You can compare it to a Formula 1 pit stop – everything we need for the operation must be ready when the ship arrives to perform unloading and loading operations efficiently, reducing vessel turnaround time. At the same time, we must ensure the same principle applies to distribution from the port terminal.”
Photo: Westport
Modern equipment, efficient workflows, and advanced data and information systems are crucial for ensuring seamless cargo flow. We continuously work on integrating with our customers’ systems to gain early access to necessary data and can plan handling in the best possible way, says Kristian.
COLLABORATION AND SHARED GOALS
“As terminal operators and the ports, we must have a shared incentive to drive development forward. We must understand each other’s goals and find solutions based on common interests. Without a clear shared objective, we risk individual optimization, which does not generate our desired growth.”
Dialogue is key. We have much to learn from each other, and continuous exchange of experiences, both nationally and internationally, can help develop even better services.
Kristian Løvaas, CEO of Westport
-A good example is our collaboration with the ports of Stavanger and Moss, where we work together to keep logistics hubs attractive and efficient. Kristian explains that we maintain regular dialogue to accommodate customer needs, whether through property development, infrastructure challenges, or other initiatives that facilitate sea transport.
THE FUTURE OF TERMINAL OPERATIONS
-Technology and automation will be central to ensuring efficiency and profitability in the future. In Moss, the port has already established a control room for cranes, and we are exploring further automation solutions that can yield significant efficiency gains,” says Løvaas.
We are in an era where technology and innovation can provide significant efficiency improvements, and we must be able to capitalize on this.
Kristian Løvaas, CEO of Westport
-By utilizing technology, we can reduce the need for manual handling and ensure better flow in processes. The goal is to create cost-effective and sustainable operations that meet customer and societal demands for efficient and environmentally friendly transport.
Photo: Westport
-Ultimately, everything revolves around building cost-effective and sustainable operations. Our goal is for sea transport to be the preferred choice for customers, and to achieve this, we must continue to optimize and invest in solutions that provide long-term benefits,” concludes Løvaas.
ABOUT WESTPORT
Westport operates and develops container and RO/RO terminals in Risavika, Stavanger, and Moss Port, providing efficient logistics services for sea transport, including container handling, project cargo, and short-sea solutions.