Port competition with accessibility and congestion: a theoretical framework and literature review on empirical studies

Abstract

This review interprets recent studies of the interactions between the competition of gateway seaports and the accessibility of landside transportation links to inland regions. Port competition is treated as part of a rivalry between two transportation chains. This paper identifies the main modeling approaches and defines the different types of hinterland access systems described in the literature. A general theoretical framework is then proposed to incorporate those key components. The importance of the proposed framework is revealed by comparing and extending results from the literature. Major assumptions that need further empirical verification are identified and discussed, and related empirical studies are reviewed. Finally, avenues for further research are discussed.

System Dynamics Analysis for the Governance Measures Against Container Port Congestion

“…Ports are keen to introduce terminal appointment system, road pricing initiatives, investments in port infrastructure and equipment, extension of gate operation hours, authentication gate system and peak-hour pricing system to eliminate or alleviate land side congestion. Wan et al [27] interpreted recent studies of the port competition between the accessibility of hinterland and the congestion of gateway seaports, identified the main modeling methodologies and defined the types of hinterland access systems. Jiang et al [28] developed a theoretical model to analyze the congestion internalization of the shipping lines, and found that with the presence of the knock-on effect, liners would operate less in terminals, and an increase of a liner's operation in one terminal would decrease its operation in the other.…”

“…To the challenge of growing service congestion at container ports, main approaches have been adopted -(i) examining the hinterland accessibility effects on port productivity [20], (ii) modeling container traffic and congestion [10,27], (iii) quantitative evaluations of port handling systems' effectiveness [8,9]. Ten typical papers in Table 1 explicitly depict container port congestion types, modeling methodologies and their according governance measures but again, their focus is on specific governance measures against certain congestion from an operational perspective.…”

Integrated ports clusters and competitive advantage in an extended resource pool for the Antwerp Seaport

“…Teng, Huang, and Huang 2004), and review studies leading to modeling frameworks for port competition have been conducted (e.g. Wan, Zhang, and Li 2018), etc., the RBV has, for almost two decades now, proven its relevance and impact in (trans)port studies. Haezendonck et al (2000) were the first to empirically analyze the competitive advantages of a seaport through the development and analysis of a matrix, by which they identified the port of Antwerp's competitiveness determinants.…”

Integrated Ports Clusters and Competitive Advantage in an Extended Resource Pool for the Antwerp Seaport

“…However, we must also note that once a competitive advantage has been attained, its sustainability in the longer run is not guaranteed (Barney 1991: 103). Although various valid and complementary models exist to analyze competition and competitiveness of ports, such as a game-theoretical approach (applied by e.g., Anderson et al 2008), ports co-optition (e.g., Heaver et al 2001;Song 2003), multicriteria analysis (e.g., Teng et al 2004), and review studies leading to modeling frameworks for port competition have been conducted (e.g., Wan et al 2018), the resourcebased view has, for almost two decades now, proven its relevance and impact in (trans)port studies. Haezendonck et al (2000) were the first to empirically analyze the competitive advantages of a seaport through the development and analysis of a matrix, by which they identified the port of Antwerp's competitiveness determinants.…”