Ports can on occasion be subject to demand surges or pressures to increase their throughput by handling more cargo during a port call. This is particularly the case when a new container ship class is introduced along a route, obliging ports to adjust to the changes created from the greater volumes of cargo handled per port call. Container depots and inland terminals support port operations, relieve congestion, and offer a buffer to accommodate volatility. They also provide a real estate footprint that partially transfers selected port operations, particularly storage and some logistical activities (e.g. stuffing and de-stuffing), to another site.
The relocation of terminal facilities to lower-risk areas represents the most drastic mitigation strategy. It can be done preemptively when there are capacity restrictions, and an existing site is assessed to be of high risk. It can also occur when a terminal has been damaged to the extent that repairs are not cost-effective, so shutting a terminal down becomes an alternative. A new site is selected at a location that is assessed as more resilient and less prone to disruptions.
Satellite facilities can also involve administrative functions. Off-site office facilities can be set to accommodate an additional managerial workforce; they can also offer a work space for management to operate if the on-terminal office facilities are forced to close temporarily.