THE MED RULE: THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF CONTAINER THROUGHPUT AND TRANSHIPMENT VOLUMES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN PORTS

The aim of the present paper is to explain the Mediterranean Transhipment Rule by a mathematical model showing the relationship between the diversion distance and the transhipment volumes, as well as the relationship to the total container traffic volume. Thus, the formula was applied to the figures achieved in 1994, 1995 and 1996. To conform with 1994, 1995 and 1996 data the formula was slightly altered so as to forecast transhipment volumes in the Mediterranean ports. By applying the formula to the figures achieved by some Mediterranean ports, the estimations were done which describe reliably enough that the transhipment volumes depend on the diversion distance and the total traffic throughput. In short, the volume of cargo transhipped in a single port is an inverse linear function of the distance of the port from the main-line vessels' route transiting the Mediterranean, and a linear function of the port container traffic volumes.