CHANGING TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC-GROWTH AND PORT DEVELOPMENT - THE TRANSFORMATION OF TIANJIN

Ports, traditionally, did not lend themselves to efficiencies and this state of affairs persisted until well into this century when a series of technological developments in shipping, the whole climaxed with unitization, radically transformed the manner in which port operations were conducted. Tianjin succumbed to this transformation in full, but only after forcibly overcoming severe site limitations. Reminiscent of the 'Anyport' model, Tianjin's port bodily moved downstream. Nailing its colours to the mast of containerization, it continues to prosper today-like yesterday-as a gateway port. However, as stressed in this paper, its future turns on the twin questions of draught restrictions and hinterland accessibility: the two everlasting regulators of port viability.