From hierarchy to networking: the evolution of the “twenty-first-century Maritime Silk Road” container shipping system

Abstract

Container shipping gives a rise of international trade since the 1960s. Based on navigation data start from the mid-1990s to 2016, this paper empirically analyses the spatial pattern of China's international maritime linkages along the "twenty-first-century Maritime Silk Road". We interpret such evolutionary dynamics in terms of growth, hierarchical diffusion and networking phases. Networking is a new stage of the evolution of the port system, which is approached based on the graph theory, complex network methods and geomatics, the paper discusses the networking's basic characteristics: multi-hub spatial agglomeration, the connection of the network develops across space, functional differentiation and a division of labour appear among ports. Our results show that, while the scope of China's maritime linkages had expanded overtime, more foreign ports become connected to the "Maritime Silk Road". In addition, the external linkages of domestic ports tend to be dispersed, reflecting upon the decline of Pearl River Delta ports and the rise of Yangtze River Delta ports, with mixed evidence for the Bohai Rim region. Lastly, the analysis underlines the emergence of a polycentric shipping system, from the Hong Kong dominance to the more diversified Shanghai/Ningbo/Shenzhen configuration. Academic and managerial implications are included.

The Impact of Slumping Oil Price on the Situation of Tanker Shipping along the Maritime Silk Road

“…This paper establishes the lag relationship between ship frequency and oil price by using the ARDL model and compares the differences between different regions along the MSR affected by the oil price slump and changes of tanker cargo flow distribution. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) There is a significant negative correlation between tanker shipping frequency and oil price in the same period, that is to say, the shipping frequency will increase correspondingly when oil price slumps. The correlation between maritime export cargo flow situation and oil price is stronger than that of import cargo flow situation.…”

“…Assuming that the original data i x and i y have been arranged in descending order and that ' (1) In the case of the same rank before and after ordering, the linear correlation coefficients of Pearson between ranks should be calculated according to Equation (2), where x and y is the mean of the sample variables.…”

“…It is an emerging trade route connecting China to the world under the changing situations of global politics and trade patterns. At present, the coverage of MSR continues to expand, the maritime trade along its route accounts for more than 35% of the global merchandise trade about 70% of the world's maritime crude oil transport [1].…”

Global strategy gone astray: Maersk's big box boats and the world shipping industry

“…These new vessels can carry 18,000 TEUs with low operational cost and efficient service. This can help Maersk to establish itself in those fast growing markets where speed and timeliness factors are critical (Campo‐Flores & McWhirter, ; Heins, ; Hirata, ; Wang, Zhu, Ducruet, Bunel, & Lau, ).…”

Multidimensional examination of the performances of a liner shipping network: trunk line/route operated by conventional (Panamax Max) and mega (ULC - ultra large container) ships

“…The results have indicated that the spatial expansion of the China's international shipping network has generally been taking place also driven by inclusion of more foreign seaports into the "Maritime Silk Road" network configuration. The role of the large seaports such as Hong Kong and Shanghai in such growing network has also changed including more diversification and consequent managerial implications (Wang et al 2018). As well, the specific research has been dealing with the research of liner container shipping networks over the period 1967-2013.…”