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Abstract

The rapid expansion of Southeast Asia’s container port systems has intensified environmental concerns, necessitating an assessment of both operational and environmental efficiency. This study evaluates environmental operational efficiency by analyzing ship emissions during cargo handling at 20 major ports in 2022, using a bottom-up methodology within the SBM-DEA model. Emissions were treated as an undesirable output to compare ports’ efficiency levels. Findings indicate that rising cargo handling activities have significantly increased emissions. Larger ports in the region demonstrated higher operational efficiency than smaller ports. They also attained environmental efficiency by leveraging scale advantages, adopting advanced technology, and investing in green initiatives. This study highlights the trade-off between economic performance and sustainability, emphasizing the need for eco-friendly infrastructure and policies to support sustainable port development in the region.

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