State of the Art of Factors Affecting Times of Ships in Container Ports: Characteristics Identification of Port Generations

Abstract

Several classifications of ports were proposed in the literature, but there is no single established or accepted framework or taxonomy due to the complexity and diversity of the port entities. UNCTAD introduced a classification based on the definition of port-generation, according to which a prevalent port’s characteristics could be associated to each port, the so-called generation. UNCTAD fully defined the characteristics of three generations of ports, while the fourth-generation of ports was less specified. Later, several researchers criticized the definition of port-generation and proposed new elements of classification, mainly of qualitative nature. Today five generations of ports may be identified. The paper proposes a set of characteristics to identify each port-generation. Several ports were object, in the time, of a process of hybridization. They were born with specific characteristics and, later, they evolved in acquiring new ones. The paper de-build the hybridization offering the possibility to identify the operative single generation. The paper introduces a set of material and immaterial characteristics to identify the port generation and then the correct tools to support planning and evaluation activities.