DETERMINANTS OF PORT SELECTION

This paper explores the main factors adopted when shippers and shipping companies select their import/export and transshipment ports. In the present study, 38 port selection indices were chosen from the previous research and field interviews. The scores of the 38 items were collected by questionnaire survey to the three major maritime/port market players: shipper, liners and container terminal operators. In order to analyze the different priorities imposed on the port selection factors by the three market players, an one-way ANOVA technique has been employed. As a consequence, this research shows the different recognitions about port service attributes among service suppliers and demanders. In addition, the 38 items have been categorized into seven key factors through an exploratory factor analysis. An one-way ANOVA was employed again to analyze the perspective differences for the port selection factors among the market players. The results show that there exit significant differences among the players assessing the importance of the following port choice factors: hinterland and terminal basic condition; shipping liners’ operations and terminal operations.