Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Port Competitiveness in West Africa Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Abstract

In the last decade, inter-port competition in West Africa has become fiercer as captive hinterlands of ports continue to overlap and become contestable or shared. This is due to door-to-door supply chain services being offered by shipping lines and third party logistics service providers through inter-modalism. In addition, as cargo becomes more concentrated in the region, there have been calls for the selection of a hub location for shipping lines serving the region in order to exploit economies of scale. This paper therefore aims to evaluate the competitiveness of major ports in the West African region based on criteria selected by experts. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, port competitiveness was evaluated and ports ranked according to the total weights obtained based on the different criteria used. The Port of Abidjan emerged the most competitive port in West Africa with its strongest links being its efficiency and performance, infrastructure and political stability outlook in spite of recent political turmoil. The Lagos Port Complex, West Africa's largest port in terms of scale and throughput, emerged fifth falling behind the Ports of Lomé, Tema and Dakar respectively owing largely to its political stability outlook. The least competitive port was the Port of Cotonou in Benin.

Container Port Selection in West Africa: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

“…AHP has been used on several port selection problems (Alanda & Yang, 2013;Chou, 2010;Frankel, 1992;Gohomene, Bonsal, Maistralis, Wang, & Li, 2015;Lirn, Thanopoulou, Beynon, & Beresford, 2004;Song & Yeo, 2004;Ugboma, Ugboma, & Ogwude, 2006;Dyck & Ismael, 2015). The studies used input data based on pairwise comparison judgements of the decision criteria.…”

“…Using multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) can be valuable for these complex decisions because it helps to structure and understand the problem with multiple and conflicting criteria (Belton & Stewart, 2002) and involves different stakeholders with their own values and objectives (Montibeller, 2005). Although MCDA methods have been used to analyze the port selection problem (Dyck & Ismael, 2015;Gohomene, Bonsal, Maistralis, Wang, & Li, 2015;Yeo, Ng, Lee, & Yang, 2014;Alanda & Yang, 2013;Chou, 2010;Chou, 2007;Ugboma, Ugboma, & Ogwude, 2006;Guy & Urli, 2006;Song & Yeo, 2004;Lirn, Thanopoulou, Beynon, & Beresford, 2004;Frankel, 1992) the literature is silent regarding the application of the multi-attribute value theory (MAVT) approach.…”

Understanding Port Efficiency: A CPEC Perspective

“…Researchers (Beresford et al, 2012;Bichou & Gray, 2004;Le-Griffin, Murphy, & F., 2006;Patra, 2015;Sutomo & Soemardjito, 2012) affirm that port efficiency is of utmost significance as it leads to speedy trade facilitation and competitiveness. Port efficiency relates to the performance 5 by logistics operators and Customs for cargo 6 clearance and trans-shipment through port services rendered by available infrastructure (Beresford et al, 2012;Bichou & Gray, 2004;Derya, 2017;Ki-Tae & Song, 2003;Kobina van Dyck & Ismael, 2015;Le-Griffin et al, 2006;Sánchez et al, 2003;Sutomo & Soemardjito, 2012;Tongzon, 2009). Moreover, Port efficiency is based on the total time taken to handle cargo, consistency of port performance and ability to provide alternative solutions (Kobina van Dyck & Ismael, 2015).…”

“…constructed and erected as fixed locations and facilities (Cullinane & Song, 2002;Flor & Defilippi, 2003;Rodrigue, 2012;Tongzon, 2009;Wanke, 2013;Wilmsmeier & Hoffmann, 2008). Technical structures at a port are the cargo handling facilities, installed or movable, referred to as logistics suprastructure (Kobina van Dyck & Ismael, 2015;Ruiz-Garcia, Barreiro, Rodríguez-Bermejo, & Robla, 2007).…”

Short Term Forecast of Container Throughput: New Variables Application for the Port of Douala

“…Omoke and Onwuegbuchunam [23], in the case of West African ports, deduced factors such as berth productivity, storage capacity, gate wait time, and ship turnaround time as critical for port performance, while in a global perspective, [24] deduced factors: terminal charges, terminal service quality, intermodal transport availability, nautical accessibility, hinterland connection, port reputation, and terminal operations. Even more studies [25][26][27] focused on defining the determinants of a port's performance (as a function of throughput) for achieving port attractiveness and competitiveness in the perspective of cargo port providers (shippers and shipping lines) also proposed similar factors related to port operations. Besides, evidence from a recent port performance scorecard overview UNCTAD [3], depicting key benchmark port performance indicators (human resources, gender, vessel operations, cargo operations, environment, finance, and economic), proves that berth and cargo operations had the most significant mean influence on port performance (as a function of throughput) from 2015-2019.…”