# An assessment model of bio-efficiency for container terminals in the presence of air emissions

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a model to assess the efficiency of container terminals while considering their air emissions, aiming to reduce environmental and health impacts in port regions.

## Contribution

A new method combining cluster analysis and a slacks-based measure model to evaluate bio-efficiency in container terminals with air emissions.

## Key findings

- Cluster analysis helps select homogeneous container terminals for accurate efficiency evaluation.
- The SBM model effectively estimates bio-efficiency while accounting for air emissions.
- The model is validated using container terminals in the Ba Ria-Vung Tau port authorities.

## Abstract

Atmospheric pollutants from container terminal operations have adverse effects on the environment in port regions, leading to increased health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among local residents. This paper aims to assess bio-efficiency for container terminals (CTs) in the presence of air emissions utilizing a slacks-based measure (SBM) model. In doing so, the paper first adopts cluster analysis to elect homogeneous CTs that aligns with the assumption of DEA theory, then uses a new method to estimate air emissions generated by CTs’ operations at harbor zones. Next, the SBM model is used to estimate the bio-efficiency of CTs in the presence of air emissions. Finally, CTs in the Ba Ria-Vung Tau port authorities (PAs) are employed as an empirical study to verify the proposed research model. The proposed research framework can contribute a methodological reference towards the relevant literature on abating atmospheric pollutants in maritime regions.