COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF OPERATIONS EFFICIENCY BETWEEN MAJOR SEAPORTS IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA USING DEA WINDOW ANALYSIS

The operations efficiency of Southern and Eastern Africa seaports was evaluated using DEA window analysis covering the period of ten years (2010-2019). The operations efficiency among the selected seaports from South and East African countries were compared and evaluated. The container throughput (TEUs), the available number of cranes, the quay length, the number of berths obtainable to hold up ships and total terminal area have been used as variables for input and output. The findings were; East African seaports have a lower container throughput volume (TEUs) and are smaller seaports size compared to South African seaports, but these East Africa seaports in general are more efficient than South African seaports. However, Durban seaport specifically in South Africa has been found to be the most efficient seaport among the six selected seaports from both regions (South and East African seaports). Moreover, the findings revealed that the least efficient seaport for the selected region over ten years is Walvis Bay seaport in South Africa. In this regard, policy maker should embrace the private and public investments as financial alternative sources. The timely, investment in port promotes a culture to modernise seaports so as to cope with the technological changes in maritime transport and improves seaport competitiveness and quality of services. The finding will be important in considering the selection of the future development strategies to be implemented by the seaports which are involved in this study.