Economic assessment of transporting refrigerated cargo between West-Africa and Europe: a chain cost analysis approach

Abstract Determining which ports to call at in a maritime loop is considered as an important determinant factor for shipping companies impacts not only on efficiency, and productivity but also transportation costs. The port selection process becomes more challenging sensitive if the market perishable goods such fruits vegetables. Specifically, this paper aims develop efficient supply chain reefer cargo. A case study of refrigerated cargo trade between West-Africa West-Europe investigated main objective minimize route's To do so, analyzes various scenarios based upon different types (transshipment non-transshipment), commodity (dry reefer), combination (un)loading Rotterdam–Gibraltar range. Four African ports, namely Tema (Ghana), Douala (Cameroon), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), are outbound leg (Africa–Europe), while several E.U. U.K. selected inbound leg. analysis initiated by applying data-gathering strategy get relevant container flow from European West-African ports. Then, cost modelling approach used determine what sailing schedule vessel should be. By performing import/export volume costs calculated, can be involved stakeholders decide best specific route.