Note: Determinants of Cargo Port Choices by Cargo Port Service Providers

Abstract

The cargo port choice literature has investigated cargo port choices by users of cargo port services, i.e., by shippers in having their cargo and by transportation carriers in having their ships and vehicles serviced by a cargo port, but little attention has been given to cargo port choices by providers of cargo port services. This paper investigates cargo port choices by providers of cargo port services, i.e., by port: (1) operators, (2) shipper agents (freight forwarders and third-party logistics providers) (3) harbor pilots, (4) tugboat operators, (5) shipping line agents and (6) customs brokers.