Global Port Expansion Plans to 2036 – James Fisher Fendercare
Company Information
James Fisher Fendercare (JF Fendercare) is a world-leading provider in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers and a major global supplier of premium quality marine equipment. We serve the global marine, energy and defence industries, with over 30 years of experience delivering marine products and expert ship-to-ship solutions.
Project Overview
James Fisher Fendercare (JFF) provides ship-to-ship (STS) transfer services and marine equipment to customers around the world. Ports are constantly expanding and modernising to handle more ships, larger vessels, and new types of cargo such as LNG and ammonia.
This project explores how global port infrastructure is expected to grow over the next 10 years and how those developments could affect demand for marine equipment and services.
Project Aim
To research and analyse major global port expansion programmes over the next decade and evaluate how these developments may influence future demand for marine equipment and ship-to-ship services.
Key Research Questions
• Which major ports around the world are planning expansion projects?
• How is capacity being added (new terminals, deeper channels, automation, rail/road links, storage or energy infrastructure)?
• Why are ports expanding (trade growth, reshoring, energy transition, congestion, competition)?
• How credible are these expansion plans based on funding, permits, and construction progress?
• Do port investments align with future cargo types (containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, LNG, ammonia)?
• What constraints could affect these developments (environmental rules, land limits, labour, politics, climate adaptation)?
What You Will Do
• Carry out desk-based market research into global port development plans
• Build a structured dataset comparing expansion projects across key regions (Asia, Middle East, Europe, Africa, Americas)
• Analyse capacity growth and the reasons behind investment decisions
• Evaluate credibility using indicators such as funding models, permitting status, and construction phase
• Assess how expansion plans match future cargo trends and energy transition developments
• Discuss findings with market experts within the business
• Produce a clear comparative analysis of global port expansion trends
Science, Engineering and Technical Understanding
• Learning how port infrastructure supports global trade
• Understanding engineering aspects of port expansion (dredging, automation, storage, transport links)
• Analysing data to compare large infrastructure projects
• Linking infrastructure growth to energy transition and cargo changes
• Evaluating environmental and climate adaptation challenges
Planning and Organisation
You will:
• Break the project into stages (research, dataset building, analysis, evaluation)
• Keep organised records of sources and data
• Use evidence to justify conclusions
• Manage your time independently
Skills Developed
• Research and structured data analysis
• Market comparison and evaluation
• Understanding global trade and infrastructure
• Strategic thinking
• Professional report writing and presentation
• Independent working and communication
Final Outputs
• A written report
• A mapped comparison of global port expansion programmes
• A structured dataset summarising expansion projects by region
• An evaluation of credibility and likely impact on marine equipment demand
• A professional presentation summarising findings and recommendations
Reflection and Evaluation
Your report may include:
• What you learned about global trade and port infrastructure
• Key uncertainties or risks affecting port expansion plans
• How confident you are in your conclusions and why
• What further research would improve the analysis
https://www.crestawards.org/resources/crest-gold-student-guide