Port Infrastructure Finance

This book provides an expert analysis of alternative investments routes and the investment strategies available to the major port players, and is a much-needed guide to expanding the investor base for private debt funding of projects from loan providers to bond investors.

Port infrastructure investments are vitally important to all ports throughout the world; without these investments, the competitive position of ports and of the dependent logistics sector will deteriorate.

National/regional governments and the local port authorities are no longer a guaranteed source of sufficient financial input to meet the continuous port infrastructure investment needs of major ports. It is, therefore, increasingly crucial for ports to broaden their strategies and secure alternative streams of investment.

This book provides expert insight into areas of port infrastructure finance across the main regions of Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA. Topics include how to estimate future demand by way of forecasting; Public-Private Partnerships; corporatisation; the pricing mechanisms for syndicated loans; European port privatisation; finance strategies for ports in Asia, the USA and Africa; and a discussion of the investment strategies available to the major port players.

Port Infrastructure Finance is an invaluable book for all parties involved in the port and maritime business, as well as investment companies, banks and other financial institutions involved in infrastructure investment.

Professor Hilde Meersman, University of Antwerp

Hilde Meersman is a full professor at the University of Antwerp where she teaches Economics, Introductory Econometrics, Applied Econometrics, Transport Modelling. She also teaches at the Technical University of Delft and MIT.

Eddy Van de Voorde teaches at the University of Antwerp (Faculty of Applied Economics). His work deals with Maritime Economics, Port Economics and Air Transport Economics, and he undertakes extensive research in the field of modelling in the sector of freight transport has resulted in a large number of international transport journal publications.

Thierry Vanelslander graduated as a doctor in Applied Economics at the University of Antwerp in 2005. He currently is assistant professor of transport, logistics and ports at the University of Antwerp. His main interest is in co-operation and competition in sea-port container handling.