The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the decision process of Tasmanian shippers when selecting an ocean carrier. Data collected through an internet-based survey is described, and influential selection criteria are reported with the use of exploratory factor analysis. The findings indicate that Tasmanian shippers are both price and service conscious. Tasmanian shippers, unlike their mainland Australian counterparts, have an overwhelming reliance on maritime transportation. The exploratory factor analysis indicates that service takes precedence over price for the subjects of the study. The findings indicate that network and schedule reliability and corporate social responsibility are influential in the choice of ocean freight services. Cargo security and seasonal capacity availability are similarly influential to Tasmania shippers. The study provides insight into the decision-making process of Tasmanian shippers. In this function, it may benefit Tasmanian ocean freight service providers by describing the characteristics that Tasmanian shippers find desirable in selecting between competing carriers. Thus, ocean freight service providers can formulate necessary strategies to attract Tasmania shippers to purchase their liner services.

Abstract:In the 21st century, ocean container carriers are facing high competition in cargo volume attraction and retention from their business to business customers. The main focus of this study is on the methodological issues in the analysis of shipping lines' competitiveness. A system review of the literature is conducted in three stages to identify the key factors influential to the competitiveness of liner shipping companies. An initial search has found 897 studies, which were then reduced to 39 after further scanning and review. The systematic review has elicited 15 key selection criteria which were further reduced through analytic hierarchy process to five critical factors influential to the liner shipping companies' competitiveness. For example, among the most frequently cited factors are the freight rate, service quality, scheduling, handling equipment and information technology. Based on the findings from the systematic literature review, a conceptual framework to identify the main determinants of the liner operators is developed, and implications for future research are also discussed.

The objective of this study i s to identify the most influential factors that affect choice of ocean container carrier by freight forwarders. It identifies the most influential factors considered by them when selecting ocean container carriers by analysing data collected from a survey of 105 freight forwarding organisations in Ghana. Exploratory factor analysi s i s used to identify the underlying factors which influence the selection of carrier. The findings of the study indicate that service quality, document accuracy, freight rates, environmental issue s, schedule reliability and quick handling are the most influential factors that guide freight forwarders when purcha sing liner shipping service. This study provide s a better understanding of the se influential factors from the perspective of the freight forwarders them selves. The findings are important to ocean container carriers since they can enable liner shipping companies to channel resource s appropriately in response to factors which are identified as determining freight forwarder carrier selection.

The objective of this research is to identify the key selection criteria that form the basis of a shipper’s selection of freight transport mode. The study is undertaken in the context of sea freight. The study is localised to Tasmanian shippers who are, or are potentially, recipients of freight subsidisation through the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. Data collected through an internet-based survey is described, and influential mode choice selection criteria are reported with the use of descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that Tasmanian shippers are conscious of cost, service, and cargo characteristics.Median responses indicate that cost, service, and cargo are equally significant in the selection process. The findings indicate that cost and cost flexibility are influential cost-based criteria. The findings also indicate that transit time, service capacity, and service flexibility are influential service-based criteria. Shipment size, cargo weight, and cargo volume are also identified as influential cargo-based criteria.This study provides insight into mode choice selection for Tasmanian shippers. In this function, it may assist existing air and sea carriers operating in the Tasmanian market to evaluate their performance and strategy by providing an analysis of shippers’ transport mode choice process. Tasmanian shippers themselves may benefit from the potential expansion of their existing freight transport mode choice process. New shippers of freight into and out of Tasmania may benefit from the perspectives of existing shippers of freight into and out of Tasmania.