Approach to Earthquake Risk in Container Ports; A case of Kocaeli Ports Area

Koldemir B., Kudu E., Yapıcı M.

5th GMC’24 – Global Maritime Congress, İstanbul, Türkiye, 20 - 21 Mayıs 2024, ss.90-94, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.90-94
  • Galatasaray Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Ports, where it is possible to move large amounts of cargo at once with cost advantages, are of indispensable importance for international trade and supply chain. Ports, where transitions between transportation modes are provided, are built at the points where land and sea/water meet. Ports; Although they provide significant benefits in meeting the needs of regions that are likely to be affected by major disasters, their contribution is inversely proportional to the ports’ impact from disasters. In the study titled “Capacity Building to Manage Risks and Increase Resilience: A Guidebook for Ports” prepared by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), 34 container ports (19 percent of all ports) have very high MMI (Modified Mercalli intensity scale) stated that it is in risk (IX and above) areas. It is known that the probability of an earthquake is high in the Marmara Region, which is located on Anatolian geography and fault lines, where tectonic activity continues. The work that needs to be done to minimize the impact of possible earthquakes on container ports in the Kocaeli region, which has the largest share in our country’s maritime transportation with 16%, should be determined. In the study, the damages caused in ports as a result of major earthquakes in the world were identified and examined. The impact of the 6 February 2023 Pazarcık and Elbistan earthquakes on the Iskenderun Limak Port and the deficiencies in terms of earthquake preparedness were investigated. Fault lines in the Kocaeli region, fault lines intersecting container ports, were examined and the effects of container stacks and dangerous cargo were revealed by meeting with port managers. The measures taken to minimize the impact on the dock, handling vehicles and dangerous loads will be investigated and evaluations will be made regarding what needs to be done in the region.