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The Attractiveness of Ports in W est A frica: Some Lessons from Shipping Lines' Port Selection
Author(s) -
Gohomene Dago Alain,
Yang Zaili l.,
Bonsal Stephen,
Maistralis Eleftherios,
Wang Jin,
Li Kevin X.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
growth and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.657
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1468-2257
pISSN - 0017-4815
DOI - 10.1111/grow.12133
Subject(s) - port (circuit theory) , attractiveness , selection (genetic algorithm) , order (exchange) , analytic hierarchy process , operations research , container (type theory) , process (computing) , business , transport engineering , computer science , engineering , finance , mechanical engineering , psychology , artificial intelligence , psychoanalysis , electrical engineering , operating system
Abstract This paper investigates the attractiveness of ports in W est A frica through the development of a container shipping lines' port choice methodology. Although many multi‐criteria decision‐making methods have been developed and applied to facilitate a rational port choice process, few have investigated the criteria used by shipping lines when selecting ports in W est A frica. With the rapid economic development of W est A frica, the task of establishing a rational model to guide shipping lines to choose their favourite ports in the region becomes urgent. In this work, 16 criteria are identified to assist shipping lines in port choice from four perspectives including adequate infrastructure, port location, port charge, and port administration/port efficiency. In order to quantitatively evaluate these criteria, an analytical hierarchy process approach is used to make use of subjective judgements to compensate the incompleteness of objective data. One of the important findings from this study is that port infrastructure is the most crucial criterion in terms of the port attractiveness in W est A frica. It is followed by port draught, political stability, market size/cargo volume, and international networks. The research outcomes also indicate that the port of A bidjan is the most attractive container port in W est A frica, followed by D akar when all the identified important criteria are taken into account.