Globalization, liberalization, competitiveness, and integration are the fundamental factors shaping a company’s position in the maritime transport sector. In the sector under discussion, cooperation has become much more important than competition in shaping enterprise efficiency. Cooperation has always characterized the liner shipping sector, mainly through implemented strategies: strategic alliances, as well as mergers and acquisitions. These corporate growth strategies have naturally contributed to the increase in the size of container ships and the decline in freight rates.In turn, in the port stevedoring sector, market consolidation also occurred as a result of the privatization of seaports or their separate administrative parts – container terminals. Consequently, the privatization of seaports worldwide has contributed to the emergence of global container terminal operators.
The article focuses on the horizontal integration of global maritime carriers and global container terminal operators. The paper presents the following key areas:
• Dedicated terminals as a cost strategy and an opportunity to control the integrated container maritime transport chain.
• Strategies for controlling the maritime containerized cargo supply chain, involving global carriers and terminal operators.
The article presents one of the fundamental problems of the maritime container transport market, which is the evolutionary role of dedicated terminals. Dedicated terminals for port stevedoring companies ensure cargo security, while in the case of liner shipping companies – container shipping, they ensure cost stability and the possibility of (…)
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Source: Logistyka Magazine 5/2011
Market structure and competition strategies in the container shipping sector – PDF file for download