Table 2 A literature review on port choice criteria

Malchow and Kanafani (2004)

To assess the competition between ports, by using a discrete choice model

Oceanic and inland distances variables have the most significant impact on carriers' distribution of shipments, followed by port location

Ugboma et al. (2006)

To investigate the most critical factors of the port selection process in four ports in Nigeria

Port efficiency, frequency of ship visits, and adequate infrastructure are dominant factors, while the quick response to port users' needs is the least important criteria. Other factors are location, port charges, and reputation for cargo damage

Young-Tae Chang et al. (2008)

To investigate the factors influencing shipping companies' port selection process

Six essential variables are (i) local cargo volume, (ii) terminal handling charge, (iii) berth availability, (iv) port location, (iv) transshipment volume, and (v) feeder connection

Tongzon (2009)

To evaluate the factors influencing port choice in Southeast Asian

Port efficiency, followed by shipping frequency, adequate infrastructure, good geographical location, low port charges, quick response to port users' needs, and reputation for cargo damage

Tran (2011)

To investigate the optimal port selection process in liner shipping

Decreasing port calls can reduce ship, inventory, and port tariffs, leading to higher inland/feeder transport costs

Andrew Yuen et al. (2012)

To explore the importance of factors influencing a container port's competitiveness, including capacity availability and the size and hinterlands connectivity

Port location is the most critical factor for both forwarders and shippers

Nazemzadeh and Vanelslander (2015)

To determine the most significant factors impressing the port selection process for North-European ports

Port costs have the most critical effect on the port selection process for port users, followed by geographical location, quality of hinterland connections, productivity, and port capacity

Rezaei et al. (2019)

To assess the essential factors in port competitiveness

Transport costs and times are the dominant factors for port competitiveness, followed by satisfaction, reputation, and flexibility

Abdul Rahman et al. (2019a, b)

To investigate the selection of ports of call in regular intra-regional container services between Malaysian ports and other Asian ports

Provides a methodological framework assisting maritime stakeholders in evaluating the feasibility and competitiveness of specific intra-regional port-to-port liner service configurations

Talley (2019)

To investigate port choices by port service providers (port operators, shipper agents (freight forwarder and third-party logistics provider), harbor pilots, tugboat operators, shipping line agents, and customs brokers

Determinants of port choices are the revenues that the providers receive from users of their provided cargo port services

Baert and Reynaerts (2020)

To investigate the determinants affecting the attractiveness of the ports in the United States

Port charges and port congestion are vital factors

Hsu et al. (2020)

To assess the port choice of liner carriers for ship calls

Port choice factors with higher importance are cargo volume (local cargo volume, transit cargo volume, and import/export cargo balance), followed by terminal handling charges and port dues