Impact of port disruption on transportation network

Port, as a critical facilitator in international trade and logistics, plays a unique role in global supply chain activities. Maritime ports are exposed to many disruption sources such as natural disasters, labour strikes and terrorism. Disruptions in port can have a wide range of potential negative impact on its transportation networks; while sometimes also benefit other ports in close proximity. As supply chains get leaner, the magnitude of such impact is expected to grow. It is crucial to understand how transportation network is affected by port disruptions, in order to develop strategies and policies to maintain its capacity and resilience. This paper aims to present a model for intermodal transportation network that evaluates the impacts of disruptions occurring at a focal port, focusing specifically on mitigation strategies of port utilization and port alliance. Disruption frequency and duration are modeled with a Discrete Time Markov Chain distribution. Order lead times are determined by the status of focal port, congestion backlogs as well as mitigating actions of the terminal operators. Numerical studies are conducted to demonstrate the possible effects of port disruption on terminal operators, shipping companies, cargo owners, shipping routes and inland transport. 1 Author for correspondence