Multicriteria evaluation for port competitiveness of eight East Asian container ports

Abstract

A great deal of literature applies efficiency measurement methods to investigate port's competitive advantages. Nevertheless, the competitive characteristics of a port are deeply influenced by port policies of government, the operating strategies of the port, operating facilities, and the loading and unloading efficiencies, etc. Therefore, the measurement of a port's overall competitiveness requires considering all internal and external factors. This paper is to clarify the characteristics of a port's competitiveness using GRA model by taking eight East Asian container ports for identification. The ranking orders evaluated by the GRA are as follows: Singapore, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Kobe, Taichung, Keelung, Pusan, and Shanghai. The findings represent the most significant criteria including 13 items. Evaluation of port competitiveness shows the effectiveness type of criterion as the principle and the efficiency type of criterion as a minor.