Modelling container terminal efficiency using stochastic methods

Abstract

The paper mainly addresses the issue of port management by estimating a quantitative model dealing with the evaluation of the economic effects of maritime container terminals. A classification of port activities is first proposed in order to assign the different types of economic effects to them. In doing this, two concepts of "efficiency" arise, that is, a corporate efficiency and a global efficiency. The model then deals with the estimation of the corporate efficiency by highlighting the factors determining it and their specific contribution. Finally, two in-depth analyses of the model based on cluster and factor techniques are conducted and future research lines are put forward.