What began as research into automation at the Port of New York/New Jersey (see “Inside and Outside the Docks: Exploring the Costs, Benefits, and Impacts of Port Automation in the United States—a port of New York/New Jersey case study” at https://rdcu.be/eMsXN) has found an unexpected epilogue in Virginia.

Dr. Paul Kent’s “For the Beauty of Logistics” article, “Automation on Trial at the Port of Virginia”, examines the emerging case between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the Virginia Port Authority (VPA)—a dispute that tests how far collective bargaining rights extend when public law, private contracts, and automation converge.

At issue is Article 11 of the ILA–USMX Master Contract, which requires that any new technology undergo a “specific and thorough review process” with the union before implementation. Less than a year after that contract was signed, the VPA’s installation of semi-automated cranes at Norfolk International Terminals has put those words to their first real test.

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Dr. Paul Kent’s newest piece in his “For the Beauty of Logistics” series looks at Armenia’s evolving connectivity choices, which have come under the spotlight recently with the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and Armenia’s own Crossroads of Peace Initiative. The article, “From Blockade to Bridge: TRIPP, Zangezur, and the Economics of Connectivity in the Caucasus”, highlights how corridor performance analysis—a tool logistics planners use to compare routing options—helps weigh cost, time, reliability, and predictability across different corridors.

The article builds on Dr. Kent’s past work in Armenia’s national freight transport strategy under the Crossroads of Peace Initiative. This is the tenth article in his series, continuing to explore the art and science behind logistics.

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Port automation has long been seen as the domain of mega-hubs with deep pockets and deep stacks of cranes. But what if collaboration—not scale—is the real unlock?

In the ninth installment of his For the Beauty of Logistics series, Monument’s Dr. Paul Kent explores how three mid-sized ports collaborate on a shared Remote Operations Center (ROC). Through modular retrofits, shared digital infrastructure, and realistic growth projections, he illustrates how even smaller terminals can achieve first-year payback and generate strong long-term returns.

Beyond the financials, the paper highlights important governance and design considerations:

• Shared infrastructure with transparent revenue and cost allocation
• Procurement strategies to prevent vendor monopolies
• Flexible membership terms that allow scaling across multiple ports
• Strong service-level agreements (SLAs) and upgrade paths

This isn’t a substitute for rigorous due diligence—but it is a valuable early-stage analysis that shows whether more in-depth evaluation is warranted. For port authorities, operators, and PPP stakeholders, the message is clear: smart automation may not require large budgets—just a smart framework for cooperation.

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Can you imagine paying for berthage at a port terminal with Bitcoin? In Dr. Paul Kent’s latest Beauty of Logistics article, he explores the potential for cryptocurrency payments in container terminal operations—and shows how multicriteria analysis (MCA) can help port managers weigh risks and rewards in an emerging, high-stakes environment. In the article, we follow “Maria,” the CEO of a terminal in Thailand, as she evaluates whether to accept crypto payments from a major shipping line. Her team’s structured decision-making process—grounded in MCA—demonstrates how tools typically used for planning and operations can also support innovation in finance and IT strategy.

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SMEs power local economies—but for many, global trade remains out of reach.

Despite making up over 90% of businesses worldwide, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face steep barriers to accessing international markets: regulatory complexity, high logistics costs, and limited visibility to global buyers.

That’s where our conceptual framework platform comes in; referred to as SMETradeX, the concept rethinks how SMEs can participate in global trade. More than just matchmaking, SMETradeX envisions an always-on, end-to-end digital system that supports the entire trade lifecycle—connecting SMEs with buyers, ensuring compliance, consolidating freight, and enabling access to trade finance.

Whether it’s María, a Salvadoran artisan seeking global customers, or GlobalTech, a U.S. company looking for trusted nearshoring partners, SMETradeX shows how smart systems can reduce friction and unlock opportunities for SMEs worldwide.

Curious how this concept could reshape SME participation in global trade? Explore the concept in the latest edition of Dr. Paul Kent’s For The Beauty of Logistics series, “Revolutionizing SME Trade – A Smart Platform for Global Partnerships.”

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