USC College of Engineering and Computing Hires Port Expert

Dr. Nathan Huynh is coming to the USC College of Engineering and Computing Civil Engineering and Environmental Department this summer with his expertise in ports and transportation issues relating to them.

Dean Michael Amiridis said the College had been looking for a professor in transportation, and since Clemson University has close ties with the SC Department of Transportation, bringing in an expert on port transportation would bring an area of transportation not available in the state.

Dr. Huynh is currently completing his obligations at North Carolina State University. His research and interests include modeling and simulation of marine container terminals.

He worked at the Houston Port and did his dissertation on that port’s operations. He said the nations’ ports are heading into a storm where cargo demand, port capacity, funding and production are stressing port operations.

Dr. Huynh said ports, like Charleston, have no available space for expansion. Seventy-five percent of the ports on the east and west coasts will have significant capacity problems by 2010. “At current productivity and growth levels, by 2020 North American ports and their associated intermodal systems will be severely congested."

Dr. Huynh said he is looking at research in terminal operations and freight logistics. He wants to bring multi-modal transportation programs to USC and place summer internships at the Port of Charleston.

Since the Port of Charleston is critically important to the state’s economy, Dr. Huynh’s arrival is timely.