Stakeholder Perceptions of Seaport Resilience Strategies: A Case Study of Gulfport (Mississippi) and Providence (Rhode Island)

Abstract

Climate change is having and will continue to have a range of negative impacts on social–environmental systems. Many ports, with their coastal locations and essential roles in regional and national economies, face particular exposure to storm impacts that may worsen with climate change. Currently in the United States port resilience planning falls primarily on port operators. Engaging a wider range of stakeholders in long-term seaport functioning may reduce risks from disruptive and potentially irreversible impacts of climate change. This study uses empirical data gathered through two case studies of highly exposed U.S. ports, Gulfport (MS) and Providence (RI), to identify strategies that port planners and external stakeholders consider feasible for enhancing their port's resilience. This article categorizes these resilience strategies and suggests the potential role that different stakeholders could play in facilitation and implementation.

Keywords:

• climate adaptation
• natural disasters
• port resilience
• resilience
• risk reduction
• seaports
• stakeholders
• strategies

Notes

¹Subsequent to the research reported here, the Port of Gulfport abandoned the structural elevation plan in favor of other investments (MSPG 2012).

²In Gulfport, a number of stakeholders could not be interviewed due to scheduling, lack of interest, or other issues. These included: Kansas City Southern Railroad, U.S. Customs, State Senator Wicker, and the Environmental Protection Agency. In Providence, we were unable to interview the Marine Pilots Association and the Rhode Island Oil Heat Institute.

³Note that there are exceptions (e.g., The Port of Rotterdam), but generally speaking 10 years is the typical planning horizon as reported in a survey of port authorities (Becker et al. 2012).