Insights into Due Diligence, Coaching, Mentoring

Illuminated cargo ship and cranes at a port terminal during nighttime, with containers stacked on the ship.

Due Diligence (2x click)

06/30/2025

Commercial Due Diligence

Introduction: Basic Factors to Consider

Market Analysis

  1. Container Trade

    • Assess current and future container volumes

    • Assess regional trade factors

    • Investigate shipping routes

  2. Competition

    • Identify competing terminals (hub, spoke, gateway)

    • Assess capacities (current and future expansion projects)

    • Assess pricing (fixed tariffs / rebates / discounts / open negotiation)

    • Assess service differentiators

  3. Customers

    • Understand relationship between terminal and shipping lines (length of contracts in place / negotiating power ?)

    • Understand relationship between terminal, importers and exporters

  4. Regulatory Environment / Concession Obligations

    • Understand Local and National Government Policies

    • Understand Customs' Practices

    • Understand Port Authority Regulations

    • Duration of concession / open to renewal ? / exclusivity clauses / termination risks

Finance Considerations

  1. Revenue Streams

    • Terminal Handling Charges

    • Storage Fees (full / empty containers)

    • Value Added Services (e.g. stuffing / unstuffing / container cleaning and repairs)

    • Understand every line item of tariff

  2. Cost Structure

    • Understand true fixed costs

    • Understand true variable costs (correlation with volume throughput)

    • Labour costs (flexible working or fixed)

    • Port Fees

    • Equipment Maintenance

    • Energy (electricity). Off the grid ? Independent power sources ? Risks ? Generators ?

  3. Profitability

    • EBIT

    • EBITDA

    • ROI

    • Cash Flows

Operational Due Diligence

Introduction: Basic Factors to Consider

Health, Safety, Environment and Security

  1. Degree of importance attached to Health, Safety and Environment

    • Safety Culture ?

    • CEO involvement ?

    • Doctor on site

    • Access to Fire /Ambulance

    • Degree of integration and automation of HSE System

    • ISO 45001

  2. Security

    • ISPS requirements / certification

    • CCTV coverage

    • Access / Egress

    • Perimeter fencing in place ?

    • Static / roaming security personnel ?

    • ISO 27001

Infrastructure

  1. Berth and Yard Capacities

    • Quay length

    • Yard hectares

    • Dwell time

    • Ratio: Gateway / Transhipment

    • Ratios: Import / Export, Full / Empty, 40'/20'

    • Equipment type (e.g. RTG (width / height) / Straddle Carrier / Reach Stacker / Empty Handler)

  2. Gate Capacity

    • Number of in-gates

    • Number of out-gates

    • OOG capabilities

  3. Traffic Flow

    • Signage

    • Lane markings

    • External trucks / Internal trucks / Cars

  4. Depths (approach channel / turning basin / alongside)

    • Dredging responsibilities ? (Terminal Operator / Port Authority ?)

    • Tidal ranges

  5. Bollard pull

  6. Power source (e.g. off grid / own substation / own power source (generators)

  7. Civil Engineering:

    • Age of Terminal: Condition of surface in the yard

    • Age of Quay Wall: Condition of the structure / piles

    • Understand past repairs to quay wall and / or yard

Equipment

  1. Numbers / Age / Maintenance records of all equipment:

    • STS

    • MHC

    • RMG

    • RTG

    • Reach Stacker

    • Empty Handler

    • Fork Lifts

    • TT

IT and Automation

  1. Investigate

    • Wifi reliability / consider stand alone communication system (eg 5G)

    • Degree of automation

    • Degree of digitalisation

    • Terminal Operating System (link with billing)

    • Cyber-Security risks / resilience

Productivities

  1. Berth Productivity (main liner / short sea / feeders)

  2. Gross Crane Productivity: Individual cranes (understand definitions (e.g. delays taken into account ?)

  3. Weather conditions (affecting productivity): e.g. wind / heat

  4. Congestion areas in yard /outside terminal ?

  5. Efficiency of planning (ship and yard)

Human Resources

  1. HR Policies

    • Pay Structures

    • Shift Patterns

    • Training

    • Disciplinary Procedures

  2. Relationship with Unions

  3. Understanding of Local Labour Law

Integration with Supply Chain

  1. Road / Trucking availability

  2. Rail / Access to paths on the tracks, rail connectivity / Frequency of trains

  3. Barge access / berthing arrangements

  4. Proximity to logistics hubs / dry ports / inland depots

  5. Customs efficiency ?

Environment

  1. Understand local Regulatory requirements

  2. Environmental Site Assessment required

  3. Assess past, current and potential future liabilities / associated costs

  4. Adherence to IMO 2020

  5. ISO 14001 Certification

  6. Waste Management Process

  7. Energy consumptions

  8. Social and Community Impacts

  9. Check validity of all licences / certificates

A large blue crane is in the middle of a dock.

Coaching (2x click)

06/30/2025

Coaching and Leadership

Within the workplace, Coaching is a powerful Leadership Style that facilitates and unlocks an individual's or a team's performance. The coach has little or no direct input to the coachees' solution; rather the coach develops a trusting and collaborative relationship, enabling the coachees to find their own solutions. This is often achieved through a series of questions from the coach, answered by the coachee, all within the framework of well established approaches to coaching.

Whilst the use of the well established coaching approaches, alongside the use of tried and tested tools and techniques can be an effective way forward, coaching can also be carried out in a much more informal way, eventually becoming a habit of every leader within an organisation.

Examples of Approaches Used:

  1. GROW Model: Popular solution orientated / behavioural approach

  2. OSKAR model: Similar to GROW Model

  3. Empty Chair Model: Often used when there is conflict in the workplace

  4. Time To Think Model: Most non-directive and empathetic approach

Examples of Tools and Techniques Used:

  1. Reflective Active Listening: Focus on words used / tone of voice

  2. Curiosity: Coach maintains close presence with coachee

  3. Spheres of Influence: Things we can control or not control / we can influence or not influence

Day to Day Coaching:

  1. Supporting the coachee to make coaching a habit in their day to day work.

  2. Supporting the coachee to better understand themselves.

  3. How the coachee responds to words and actions within the work place.

  4. Supporting the coachee within the psychology of positive and negative thoughts.

A large container yard with many containers at night.

Mentoring (2x Click)

06/30/2025

Mentoring for Individual Development

Unlike a Coaching approach, I would give direct input, guidance and advice to the individual or group of individuals.

The process would start by establishing the purpose and understanding of what the mentee wants to achieve.

I would clarify what I can offer to the mentee in terms of the guidance, feedback, advice and support.

There is often a development plan that would be set at the start of the process. The plan would form the basis of the overall approach, allowing regular and constructive feedback throughout.

Typically, the process would take place over a number of months, with the mentoring sessions being held at a frequency appropriate to the purpose and plan.

The sessions are usually conducted with the C-Level of the organisation; however, where there is a need at the Middle Manager Level, and since the procedures and activities remain the same, an effective result is achieved for all.