The ostensible tension between competition and cooperation in ports: a case study on intra-port competition and inter-organizational relations in the Rotterdam container handling sector

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Table 1 Inventory of problems in inter-terminal coordination (and their effects on performance), as identified by respondents

Forwarders	Terminal operators	Port Authority	Carriers
Hold-up of barges at terminal (deep-sea lines get priority) ➔ Containers may ‘miss the boat’	Uncertainty of container arrival times at other terminals ➔ Less efficient handling, longer transit times	Hold-up problems regarding rail and barge, modal shift towards these modalities hard to achieve ➔ Large share of truck transport to hinterland (more congestion and environmental impact)	Inefficient exchange of transshipment containers ➔ Longer transit time, containers may miss their boat
Rail and barge cargoes are not consolidated efficiently between terminals ➔ Longer transit times	Exchange of transshipment containers inefficient ➔ Longer transit time, containers may miss their boat		Hinterland rail and barge connections inefficient ➔ Longer transit times
			Congestion at and between terminals (unreliable barge service) ➔ Longer transit times