Thematic Area
Thematic Area
Thematic Area
Container port competition in Europe
The port competition in Europe with a main focus on container ports and terminals, is the theme of discussion of the latest port study of PortEconomics co-directors Theo Notteboom and Peter De Langen. Theo's and Peter's contribution entitled Container Port Competition in Europe published in the Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics, International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, edited by Chung-Yee, Lee and Qiang Meng (Springer, 2015). Port competition has become a complex and multi-faceted concept...
Thematic Area
International maritime transport costs: market structures and network configuration
'States and nations are redefining their place in the world at the present time in the wake of the economic, political and cultural transnationalization processes that have occurred in recent decades. Each country, each region is seeking to recast its role and potential in accord with its geographical location, its history and the times. This positioning is, of course, conditioned by multiple factors, which include conditions of production, economic and political interests and transport-related issues especially. Maritime transport is the...
Thematic Area
Cruise ports: structures and strategies
The cruise industry has witnessed an uninterrupted growth over the last thirty years. An industry focused on the United States and the Caribbean emerged progressively as a global industry transporting close to 21 million passengers in 2013. While the global financial crisis of 2008–09 had a major impact over maritime shipping, cruise shipping and cruise ports continued to enjoy a steadily rising number of passengers. This growth continues with innovative, feature-rich ships, the use of an increasing number of ports of call and turnaround...
Thematic Area
Container port competition and competitiveness analysis: asian major ports
The evaluation of the competitive edge of major Asian container ports, i.e. Busan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore ports is the subject of the port study of PortEconomics associate member Jasmine Siu Lee Lam - co-authored with Paul Tae-Woo Lee from Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan. The authors introduce, among others the concept of the Fifth Generation Ports - referring to the customer-centric community ports, in this study, entitled Container Port Competition and Competitiveness Analysis: Asian Major Ports, and published in the...
Thematic Area
Reefers in north american cold chain logistics: evidence from western canadian supply chains
An analysis of the use of refrigerated ISO maritime containers (reefers) in cold chain logistics, is the theme of the last port study of PortEconomics member Jean-Paul Rodrigue.The study titled 'Reefers in North American Cold Chain Logistics: Evidence from Western Canadian Supply Chains' and published by Van Horne Institute. Reefers are used in a wide array of cold chain trade relations but mostly involve large exporters and importers, but due to their size are also accessible to small and medium sized traders can also access the flow of...
Thematic Area
Competitiveness of ports in emerging markets: Durban, South Africa
Durban is the main gateway port of Africa. It is the largest port in Africa, which concentrates more than two thirds of the total container traffic to and from South Africa. It has strong maritime connections with the rest of the world: it has both a central position in port networks and a large diversity of connections with other ports. Durban, also called eThekwini, serves as the main gateway for the Gauteng metropolitan area (which includes Johannesburg), other regions in South Africa as well as other sub-Saharan countries, in addition...
Thematic Area
Integrating triple 'P'
In one of the key scholarly contributions in the 3rd volume of the Book Series by the Sefacil foundation on Port-City governance, PortEconomics member Michaël Dooms explores the strategic management of the social license to operate for ports, linking objective "triple P" performance management (through e.g. sustainability reports) with subjective perception indicators of the strength of the social license to operate. The thought process in the chapter, rooted both in theory as well as prolific practical examples from leading ports, suggests...
Thematic Area
Uncertainty and volatility in shipping and ports
PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom (Dalian Maritime University, China) and associate member Jasmine Siu Lee Lam (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) acted as guest editors of a brand new Special Issue of the flagship journal Maritime Policy and Management (MPM) on the theme "Dealing with uncertainty and volatility in shipping and ports". The Special Issue covers the December issue of MPM (vol. 41, no. 7). The Special Issue is dedicated to the ways shipping freight markets, and port operators are dealing or can deal with market...
Thematic Area