Identifying Transshipment Hubs in a Global Container Shipping Network: An Approach Based on Reinforced Structural Holes

Transshipment hubs are important components of the global container shipping network. Nowadays, hybrid ports emerging, handling both gateway and transshipment traffic depending on their significant maritime connectivity. Effectively identifying hubs, including traditional with high incidences sufficient capabilities, is crucial to gain a good understanding networks. The method reinforced structural holes (RSHs) has been introduced from sociology detect at level, as it can fully consider existence separated cohesive port communities. results show that RSH-based approach feasible identify those playing role bridges across different communities worldwide, which demonstrated perspective higher ranked RSH values generally have better connections various Several policy implications further elaborated for relevant decision makers, such liner companies operators.