An analysis of carriers’ selection criteria when choosing container terminals in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an empirical study conducted by distributing questionnaires to shipping agents working for foreign principals in Karachi, Pakistan. In Part A of the questionnaire, respondents gave a score reflecting the importance of 13 factors affecting terminal selection. Their responses indicate that service quality, loading/discharging rate and handling charges are the most important selection factors. A linear model is developed in which the dependent variable is total stay (in hours). The independent variables are vessel type, vessel size, total TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), vessel frequency and past visits of the shipping line. All the coefficients are significant. In the second section (that is, Part B of the questionnaire), respondents gave scores reflecting the quality of different attributes and how they affect the attractiveness of four specific container terminals. One-way ANOVA was used to test whether respondents have significant opinion differences. The result indicated that respondents do differ in opinions. Moreover, factor analysis of the aggregate data produced two factors with strong loading of six attributes in one factor and two attributes in the second. Maritime Economics & Logistics (2009) 11, 270–288. doi:10.1057/mel.2009.8

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“…Other studies have reinforced its importance in port selection. Prominent among them are Saeed [24] and Sayarah and Razaee [25]. The findings are consistent with that of Dyck and Ismael [26].…”

A systematic approach for evaluating port effectiveness

“…These can be expanded to include externally generated information, such as users' perspectives on port choices [9,10] and port attractiveness [11]. There are also few recent attempts [12][13][14] to assess port users' satisfaction via the application of SERVQUAL, a well-known multi-item scale developed to assess customer perceptions of service quality in service and retail businesses.…”

“…What we wish to measure is port effectiveness, as indicated by perceived performance on individual criteria (attributes) and by the relationship of these with overall satisfaction, whether it is delivered by the port or by the port's partners in the supply chain. Moreover, most effectiveness and ''port choice'' studies focus on one type of actor only, whether these are carriers [10], shippers [19], forwarders [20], or even terminal-operating companies [21]. The scope of this research is to assess the views of all actors in a single integrated way.…”

Efficiency assessment of container operations of shipping agents in Spanish ports

“…Their activity increases the efficacy in the supply chain operations, as a result of their experience and know-how (Bichou, Bell, 2007). One possible way of measuring that efficacy is by assessing the service quality, the load/unload ratios, and handling costs, all of which serve as key factors for the selection of a specific shipping agent (Saeed, 2009). Their role is determinant also in the development of the short 3 sea shipping and the sea motorways (Beškovnik, 2006).…”

“…Their role is determinant also in the development of the short 3 sea shipping and the sea motorways (Beškovnik, 2006). However, in spite of their importance in the efficient operation of maritime transportation, shipping agents have deserved limited attention from researchers, with just a few works dealing with that role (Saeed, 2009, González-Torre et al, 2013.…”