In case of ocean space utilization, the factors which have to be taken into consideration in order to form an international basic container route are geographical factors which are the position on a global scale, the economic scale of port hinterland, the ocean climatic condition for setting the route etc. as well as factors from the viewpoint of transport such as the volume of container cargo and both size of container ships and container terminals. It is important to consider these geographical factors not only in order to study the port placement from the global point of view but also to devise the port policy. Although there are many studies on factors from the viewpoint of transport, there is almost no study on these geographical factors. Then, the authors made a new simulation model and analyzed these geographical factors of the international container ports in all parts of the world. As a result of analysis, the authors got the conclusion that there were three port placement patterns. The first type is ‘the Continent Base Port Type’, which it is located in the continent and has the large economic hinterland. Typical ports of this type are Antwerp, LA, LB and Shanghai. The second type is ‘the Ocean Base Port Type’, which is located in the ocean space where geographical predominance is high. This type forms route hubs. Typical ports of this type are Singapore, Malta and Kaohsiung. The third type is ‘the Tight Hinterland Port Type’, which is located in an island and has the tight economic hinterland where the economic activities density is very high. This type has characteristics that the distance between the ports is short and there are a lot of numbers of ports, which is unique and special in the world. Japan’s ports are classified in the third type. Furthermore, Japan has a characteristic that there are many large-scale earthquakes and has to consider earthquake measures to reduce disaster risks. The authors will suggest the most suitable port placement theory in consideration of these characteristics in case of ocean space utilization.

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A port logistics is classified into two kinds, a container logistics and a bulk logistics. In the field of a container logistics, a terminal operator pursues large-scale management of its container terminals by global M&A corresponding to the global growth of the container handling number, which resulted in container terminal operators’ oligopolization. In the field of a bulk freight logistics, the private enterprises, which invest in and improve port equipment by themselves, are changing in the direction to reduce number of handling ports and to invest in port equipment intensively corresponding to the vigorous resource demand of the world. The economic activities of the private enterprises are progressing on the basis of the management strategy which differs between “oligopolization” of a container logistics and “selection and concentration” of a bulk freight logistics. On the other hand, since management of ports is the basis supporting a national logistics, each country of the world carries out various public participations, such as a legal support and a financial support. For example, in Japan, although ‘a port authority system’ was brought to Japan almost 60 years ago by U.S.A. and the management right of main ports were transferred to local governments from national government, Japanese government has been taking the lead in implementation of many policies to strength global competitiveness of industry reflecting the flow of global privatization and concession. Recently, many countries have been changing their public participation policies. A country has established the system which increases private investment and reduces public financial support since capital investment remaining power has decreased according to aggravation of the finances of national government and local governments. The other country has established the system which backs up logistics activity with public support. This paper, to utilize ocean space, will show a port logistics policy of Japanese government, particularly the historical flow and the prospective view of the public participation to a port logistics based on the logistics trend of the world.