Importance of hinterland transport networks for operational efficiency in seaport container terminals

Abstract

In recent decades the intermodal container transport has emerged more and more as the basis for a globalized economy. This results in accordant seaport container terminal requirements as transhipment nodes and as an interface between different modes of transport. However, the performance in the nodes of a network only represents one aspect, as the capacity in the inbound and outbound flows, i.e. the deep sea and the hinterland traffic, has to play an important role in these considerations. To solve the problem of hinterland transport concepts are presented which include a dislocation of the terminal structures as well as a bigger involvement of rail freight transport. Although the rapid growth of the container transport in recent years clearly declined because of the global recession in 2009, no fundamental changes are expected, as shown by current developments (and forecasts). The quantities which have to be dealt with are rising again (and continue to rise), even if with a temporal lag, so that there is still need for action, especially concerning the linking of seaport container terminals with the hinterland. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.