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Unveiling the configuration of Piraeus shipping cluster
With Greece being a major shipping country worldwide and Piraeus being one of the most dynamic ports in Europe, the clustering of shipping and shipping related activities can be of valuable importance in the formation of a leading maritime capital as well as a significant value added for the country’s economy. In the case of Greece and more specifically in the case of Piraeus, the presence and the structure of a shipping cluster remained unexplored. The latest port study of PortEconomics members George Vaggelas and Thanos Pallis, is...
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Port throughput allocation in the portfolio framework
Port throughput allocation in the portfolio framework is titled the new port study by PortEconomics members Francesco Parola and Giovanni Satta, co-authored with Marina Resta (University of Genoa) and Luca Perscico (University of Genoa). The study proposes a theoretical framework for port assets allocation grounding on financial portfolio optimization theory. The rationale of the study originates from recent ongoing trends affecting the port industry that, notably, in the last two decades is experiencing a dramatic “financialisation”...
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The relocation and migration of container terminals
Draft limitation, land availability, cost differences, liner and/ or inland connectivity, regulations are possible drivers for port migration and relocation. PortEconomics members Theo Notteboom and Jean-Paul Rodrigue along with Peter Hall (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada) discussed the spatial, economic, network, environmental and governance drivers and consequences from the relocation and migration of container terminals. The discussion took place during the 17th PPRN meeting, held in Athens, Greece at the eve of IAME2019...
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Shipping alliances connectivity and the growth of Piraeus to major hub
In recent years, Piraeus has emerged as one of the most dynamic container ports in Europe and beyond. Following the concession of the major container terminal to COSCO in 2009, and eventually the privatization of the entity managing the entire port in 2016, Piraeus experienced an unprecedented growth of container traffic throughput. Today it stands among the top ten European container ports. How has this been achieved? The latest port study of PortEconomics members George Vaggelas and Thanos Pallis studies this growth in the light of global...
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LNG bunkering solutions in ports
LNG as a marine fuel represent a viable solution for making the maritime and port industry more sustainable, as it allows reducing emissions and pollutants, such as SOx and NOx, compared with traditional fuels. Although a number of academics and practitioners has addressed the phenomenon, by investigating environmental, social economic and financial issues related to the adoption of LNG-propulsion systems in the shipping sector, prior studies predominantly assumed a ship-owner or a shipping company’ perspective. Conversely, the analysis of...
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PortGraphic: when being an outsider is no option-the search for alliance membership in container shipping
By Theo Notteboom HMM recently announced that the carrier will join THE Alliance in April 2020. This marks the end of HMM's search for alliance membership after the G6 alliance ceased to exist some 4 years ago. In 1998, HMM became an alliance member for the first time when the carrier joined the New World Alliance (NWA). In the early 2010s, the NWA teamed up with the Grand Alliance members to create G6. A wave of M&A activity in the liner shipping industry resulted in a new alliance landscape in recent years. HMM found itself...
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The Analyst: from fuel to food
By Peter de Langen Rotterdam’s recent announcement that it is developing a 60-hectare ‘Food Hub’ at the entrance to Maasvlakte is interesting, both because of the concept and of the history of the site The industrial site will be developed to offer optimal facilities for ‘agrofood’ companies and will have multiple berths for container vessels and inland vessels, with special facilities for refrigerated cargo. The idea is that containers arriving at the Maasvlakte container terminals will move by ship to the food hub, while...
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Measurement of port performance from users’ perspective
Going beyond the usual approach of measuring port performance – focusing on the efficiency of port operations – the latest port study of PortEconomics member George Vaggelas, aims to look into shipping lines and other port users’ perceptions on port performance. The study develops a framework measuring the perceptions of port users (i.e. shipping companies, shippers, etc.) on port performance. A typology of elements that shape port users’ perceptions has been developed with an eye on capturing the peculiarities of different port...
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