Resilience analysis of the RCEP shipping network

Abstract

As a bridge and hub for commodity circulation, maritime transportation is the cornerstone of global trade. The safety of maritime transport systems is directly related to trade stability among Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries. Therefore, identifying the resilience of the RCEP shipping network from multiple dimensions is essential. This article constructs a weighted RCEP shipping network that comprehensively considers the route service frequency and average vessel capacity. Based on resilience mechanisms, a resilience model for the shipping network is established from three dimensions: resistibility, absorbability, and recoverability, to assess the performance of the RCEP shipping network. The results indicate that the RCEP shipping network has scale-free and small-world characteristics. Compared to the global shipping network, the RCEP shipping network exhibits a relatively balanced distribution of nodes, thereby possessing enhanced reliability and resilience. Deliberate attacks on specific regional routes, such as the Australia-New Zealand route, can also lead to a significant drop in network connectivity. Therefore, enhancing the focus on regional transshipment ports is necessary. Prioritizing the recovery of highly connected nodes is more meaningful for improving network efficiency. Phased selection of optimal recovery strategies based on the actual conditions of the network helps alleviate the pressure of resource allocation, and may yield positive impacts on the recovery of critical nodes in subsequent stage, which can maximize the efficiency of network recovery.