Dhows tramping in the Horn of Africa: An initial characterization of their specific services using Djibouti port data

Abstract

The persistence of dhow shipping around the Arabian Peninsula is puzzling nowadays, since almost every commodity can be carried easily and cheaply through the global network of container shipping lines (Song and Panayides, 2015). Yet, dhow shipping is still active in the region, not only for local trade but also for long range trade such as between East Africa and Indian or even Sri Lanka. In the absence of an available database on dhow trade, this article uses port data to deduce the way dhows differentiate their services from liner and bulk shipping to find a place in maritime transport. Using data provided by the Djibouti Port and Free Zone Authority (DPFZA) on dhows’ stopovers during the 2014–2018 period, this article shows that dhows perform a taxi-like on-demand tramping service to supply coastal retailers with consumer goods that are not carried by liner shipping. Through the particular case of dhows in Djibouti, the article sheds light on the part played by transport vectors as norm interfaces to distribute standardised consumer goods to populations in developing countries.