Examining Risks of Coastal Flooding to Port Systems

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Civil Environmental and Geomatic Eng

Abstract

Coastal flooding is one of the most serious environmental risks to the UK. Despite much research on general risks of coastal flooding, knowledge about how flooding affects the estuary port systems that sustain much of the UK economy is more limited.

The proposed research aims to examine risks of coastal flooding to port systems and the supply chains that they sustain throughout the UK. As an exploratory study in a short term, the research considers two major ports (Dover and Immingham) that are subject to flooding risks. The supply chains considered are food import systems that are clearly of critical importance to the UK. The project has the following objectives:
-Predicting time evolution of potential coastal flooding
-Translating risks of flooding to risks in port infrastructure systems
-Translating risks of flooding to risks in import logistics systems
-Engineering risk communication between flood forecasters and infrastructure users/owners

The core stakeholders of this project are the Maritime Resilience Planning and Consequence Management Team of the Department for Transport (DfT; UK central government), the ports of Immingham and Dover and John Dora Consulting. Network Rail and the Food Storage and Distribution Federation have agreed to make comments on our outputs and send officers to our workshops. The results of the projects will help their policy formation as well as development of Emergency Procedures and Business Continuation Plans. In particular, the results will be used in the UK government's cross-departmental initiative on UK maritime, food and energy resilience to a tidal surge.
 
Description This project has achieved the following:
• A new model to predict the height and duration of tidal surges (for specific ports at estuary level)
• An assessment of consequent port activity and inland distribution logistics for a range of scenarios
• Interviews to analyse the current risk communication mechanism between stakeholders including the port, rail and energy sectors.
• A workshop with the key stakeholders (Immingham Port and Department for Transport) to understand how the developed model could be applied by stakeholders to inform decisions.
Exploitation Route The results of the project could be used as a case study to encourage other ports to prepare for potential disruptions due to storm surge

The model has to be adjusted and further developed. Once it is complete, the stakeholders can use it as a planning tool for their resilience improvements.

The pilot study (NE/M008150/1) has been complete and we are now in the second phase (NE/N01295X/1). Upon the completion of the second phase, we expect that the method can be established and our models can be adjusted to other UK ports/ estuary ports.
Sectors Energy

Environment

Government

Democracy and Justice

Transport

 
Description Stakeholder : Immingham Port Immingham port has an improved understanding of a potential surge. In addition, they have a better understanding of the issues on the downstream of coal/biomass supply chain after the port. Furthermore, through collaboration, they have found value of collaboration with academics. Stakeholder: Department for Transport DfT has been trying to raise the awareness of the potential impact of port disruptions on the national economy and this project has illustrated this and helped to quantify the potential effects.
First Year Of Impact 2015
Sector Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport
Impact Types Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Environmental Risk to Infrastructure
Amount £148,257 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2016 
End 04/2017
 
Title A neural network model for Immingham port 
Description A neural network model for Immingham port. Note that the selection above for the type of the tool does not include any non-biology research. This has to be rectified. 
Type Of Material Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact This would provide a simple tool for them to predict catastorophy. 
 
Title MARS 
Description Methodology for Assessing Resilience of Seaports 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The method includes a new model to assess Resilience of Seaports 
 
Description Department for Transport 
Organisation Department of Transport
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Department for Transport provided various support to us, including expert comments
Collaborator Contribution We have been working with them. If they need any help, they will ask us.
Impact We have run a project for DEFRA, which originated from our collaboration, because now we have expertise in maritime resilience. The project they have funded include FO0454 (£117,592). We have also provided modelling capabilities when they have issues in Dover-Calais corridor in 2015. We are now providing expert advice for their resilience planning for supply chain after Brexit.
 
Description Immingham 
Organisation Associated British Ports
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This partner provided data as well as help.
Collaborator Contribution Providing models, which they can use in their resilience planning
Impact They have developed their resilience plans, which are commercially confidential
 
Description NE/M008150/1 
Organisation Associated British Ports
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Highlighted the potential issue of coastal flooding to port
Collaborator Contribution Provision of data, industry knowledge
Impact Support for further research
Start Year 2014
 
Description NE/M008150/1 
Organisation Department of Transport
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Highlighted the potential issue of coastal flooding to port
Collaborator Contribution Provision of data, industry knowledge
Impact Support for further research
Start Year 2014
 
Description NE/M008150/1 
Organisation Network Rail Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Highlighted the potential issue of coastal flooding to port
Collaborator Contribution Provision of data, industry knowledge
Impact Support for further research
Start Year 2014