Articulating intermodal chains through short-sea shipping: a method for assessing the performance of East African ports

The location of East African ports, along with difficulties in building and maintaining effective road corridors, has led to the consideration intermodal transport through Short Sea Shipping (SSS) as an alternative for load transport. However, this potential solution is dependent on ports consolidation centres configuration networks. This paper provides a method evaluate performance their role hub chain. Specifically, assessment port indicators ad hoc, jointly evaluates hinterland’s capillary haul operations. proposed aggregately consider attributes time cost compare competitiveness ports’ current status standard parameters. application reveals that tariff structure should be adapted operative reality SSS. In addition, loading not proven determinant pre-berthing waiting effectiveness chains.