Themes and tools of maritime transport research during 2000-2014

This study examines how maritime transport has been researched through a comprehensive review of papers published in 19 transportation journals over the period 2000–2014. Systematic investigation shows that Maritime Policy & Management plays a prominent role in publishing maritime transport research. At the same time, ‘shipping’ is a dominant research area, with ‘port management, service, performance, efficiency and competitiveness’; ‘shipping market, industry, freight rate and economic impact’; and ‘terminal studies’ as the most popular topics. Nevertheless, few efforts have investigated ‘shipping finance’; ‘shipping service’; or ‘port risk and security.’ Since 2000, the use of quantitative analysis techniques has steadily increased in maritime transport to help participants make decisions scientifically. We here present the major data analysis techniques and highlight some limitations regarding their application. Thus, we provide a better understanding of how maritime transport research has been undertaken in a quantitative manner.     

Analysis of the development potential of bulk shipping network on the Yangtze River

In the past decades, a multilayer transshipment network of bulk shipping has been formed along the Yangtze River so as to support the fast development of Chinese iron and steel industry. Yet with the decrease of iron ore trade in China since 2014, the bulk port system on Yangtze River probably will be subject to change in the future. Under this background, this paper aims to analyze the development potential of Yangtze River bulk ports system with a focus on iron ore transshipment. To realize this objective, we firstly sort out the main transshipment patterns of bulk shipping, and optimize the bulk-shipping network with an optimization model. Several scenarios are then proposed and examined in the model by changing corresponding parameters. Cooperation among ports as one scenario is analyzed by applying core theory in cooperative game. Based on the changes of transshipment plans observed under the various scenarios, we finally ascertain the different development potentials of the system, and provide suggestions to the port operators and local maritime authorities.     

Spatial efficiency in the bulk freight market

In the short run, there can be substantial differences in spot freight earnings between geographical regions of the global freight market for bulk carriers. Such differences can be consistent with an efficient market if they are temporary and if they cannot be exploited financially by pursuing chartering strategies that are based on publicly available information. In this paper, we apply a simple optimal switching model to evaluate whether such chartering strategies exist. We model the spot freight rate differential between the Atlantic and Pacific basins as a mean-reverting Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process and the entry–exit decision using the discount factor approach, which results in optimal trigger values for the entry/exit from each basin. Our empirical results suggest that the market is spatially efficient during normal freight market conditions when there is a surplus of vessels. The tight market conditions during the 2003–2008 freight market boom caused a persistent upward bias in Atlantic freight rates, but also here we find little added value from pursuing an active switching strategy.     

A reactive container rerouting model for container flow recovery in a hub-and-spoke liner shipping network

This paper focuses on the container rerouting due to a disruption, aims at making the optimal container flow recovery plan for the affected liner shipping company. First, we make the initial effort to bring up with a basic framework of disruption management for liner shipping. Second, we present a compact integer linear programming model for addressing the container rerouting problem under the proposed framework in a hub-and-spoke liner shipping network, based on a given recovery vessel schedule that determines to omit a port of call. Other shipping companies’ services and other modes (roadway, railway, and airline) as candidate alternative means to transport the miss-connected containers are also incorporated in the proposed model. The container flow recovery plan would select the optimal alternative paths for the miss-connected containers balancing the trade-off between container transport costs and delivery delay penalty costs. Finally, a case study from a global liner shipping company is investigated and the computational results indicate the model can be solved effectively and efficiently for the real-scale problem. Thus, the proposed approach in this paper can supply real-time decision support tool for the liner shipping operators on handling the process of container flow recovery.     

长江口12.5 m深水航道利用边坡通航的方案

长江口深水航道是大型海船进出上海港主要港区和长江下游主要港口的重要航道。随着大型集装箱、邮轮、散货船在北槽深水航道有限的宽度内通航矛盾日益突出,对深水航道的稳定运行与上海港的日常运营造成极大的影响。在分析长江口现有通航船舶特点及矛盾焦点的基础上,结合长江口航道资源分析,探讨利用长江口深水航道边坡进行超宽船舶交会的可行性及其优势,并提出相关实施措施。该方案是提高长江口12.5 m深水航道资源利用率,贯彻落实供给侧改革,适应"长江经济带"和"一带一路"两个重大国家战略、推进上海国际航运中心建设的有效措施。     

一体化运营的钦州自动化码头海铁联运发展

针对多式联运建设过程中铁路与港口最后1 km迟迟不能打通的问题,以钦州港自动化码头海铁联运为实践案例,分析了海铁联运现状和推进过程中数据不通、运输规则不同等困难。基于海运与铁路2套不同的运行机制特点,采用实证研究法和个案研究法,提出先实现物理区域合并、堆场资源共享,再打破信息壁垒、实现信息系统融合,最终实现统一调度、业务融合的一体化运营的分步式推进路径。研究成果可为其他港口海铁联运建设提供借鉴。     

内河航道服务水平及通过能力研究

以交通工程理论为基础,结合内河航道特征提出航道服务水平概念及指标;以内河和渠化航道标准船型为依据对内河航道服务水平指标进行量化,在此基础上确定服务水平等级;将船舶交通流理论和航道服务水平相结合建立内河航道通过能力计算模型。以淮河出海航道运行资料为依据,计算航道通过能力,并与设计水平年货流密度进行对比分析,可供内河航道规划、建设、评估、维护或升级提供理论参考。     

2008年世界船舶市场评述及展望

回顾了2008年世界船舶市场的发展,并对未来一两年的船舶市场进行了预测。2008年上半年船舶行业继续保持快速发展,但受美国金融危机影响,下半年船舶建造市场急速降温,成交缩减,船价开始下滑。未来世界经济发展前景尚不乐观、航运市场运力投放集中,因此,油船、散货船、集装箱船市场短期内仍将维持弱势,但海洋工程装置受影响程度相对较小。     

金融危机下对航运企业安全管理的思考

金融危机席卷全球,航运业首当其冲。文中通过对台州辖区航运企业安全管理现状的走访调查,分析了这些企业目前在安全管理上存在的问题,提出了具有建设性的建议和对策,     

海运货物危险性质判定若干问题探讨

文中介绍了海运危险货物监管依据的一些国内外法律和标准,并针对海事部门在打击海运危险货物瞒报过程中遇到的在货物危险性质判定方面存在的若干问题进行了探讨,提出了解决的建议和意见。