THE ROLE OF DEVELOPING LOGISTICS ACTIVITIES IN IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF IRAQI COMMERCIAL PORTS (AN APPLIED STUDY ON UMM QASR PORT)

Resumo

This study aims to examine and analyze the role of developing logistics activities in improving the performance of Iraq’s commercial ports, to design a framework that clarifies the impact of physical distribution elements—such as transportation and storage—on enhancing the performance of Iraq’s (maritime) commercial ports. The application focuses on Umm Qasr Port. The study arrives at several key findings, most notably the existence of a statistically significant relationship between transportation and logistics distribution and the improvement of port performance in terms of the number of vessels, waiting time, cargo throughput, and number of containers. It also highlights the presence of a modern logistics zone at Umm Qasr Port and proposes a set of recommendations, including the establishment of an independent administrative unit specialized in logistics management to oversee transportation and storage activities, as well as greater attention to the port’s maritime access channel to enhance the performance of Iraq’s commercial ports. Furthermore, the study recommends applying the proposed model, which contributes to improving the efficiency of Iraq’s commercial ports.