<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper focuses on the role of small and medium-sized ports (SMPs) in enhancing the competitiveness and logistics performance of multi-port gateway regions and associated inland logistics systems. The concepts developed will be applied to the ports in the northeast of China, a multi-port gateway region around the Bohai Sea Economic Rim (BER). Port competition is analyzed by multi-variable methodology and generalized common characteristics of SMPs compared to gateway ports, and the similarities of SMPs and SMEs are also compared. Later in this paper, we analyze the role of a SMP in such region in different variables: (a) cargo volume and market share; (b) international connectivity; (c) relative cluster position; (d) port city and hinterland connection; and (e) logistics and distribution function. The five-dimension analysis combined with in-depth cases study of typical Yingkou port describes a profile of SMPs in the BER and provides future study possibility for more SMPs cases worldwide.</p></abstract>

This paper focuses on the role of small and medium-sized ports (SMPs) in enhancing the competitiveness and logistics performance of multi-port gateway regions and associated inland logistics systems. The concepts developed will be applied to the ports in the northeast of China, a multi-port gateway region around the Bohai Sea Economic Rim (BER). Port competition is analyzed by multi-variable methodology and generalized common characteristics of SMPs compared to gateway ports, and the similarities of SMPs and SMEs are also compared. Later in this paper, we analyze the role of a SMP in such region in different variables: (a) cargo volume and market share; (b) international connectivity; (c) relative cluster position; (d) port city and hinterland connection; and (e) logistics and distribution function. The five-dimension analysis combined with in-depth cases study of typical Yingkou port describes a profile of SMPs in the BER and provides future study possibility for more SMPs cases worldwide.

Peripheral challenge by Small and Medium Sized Ports (SMPs) in Multi-Port Gateway Regions: the case study of northeast of China

Dalian Maritime University (China) 1#, Linghai Road, Hi-tech zone, Dalian, China, 116023 and ITMMA – University of Antwerp (Belgium)

ITMMA – University of Antwerp (Belgium) Kipdorp 59, BE-2000 Antwerp, Belgium and Antwerp Maritime Academy (Belgium)

Polish Maritime Research

This paper focuses on the role of small and medium-sized ports (SMPs) in enhancing the competitiveness and logistics performance of multi-port gateway regions...

Peripheral challenge by Small and Medium Sized Ports (SMPs) in Multi-Port Gateway Regions: the case study of northeast of China

Published Online: Jul 31, 2013

Page range: 55 - 66

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pomr-2013-0027

Keywords
SMPs, BER, Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)

This content is open access.

Peripheral challenge by Small and Medium Sized Ports (SMPs) in Multi-Port Gateway Regions: the case study of northeast of China

Published Online: Jul 31, 2013

Page range: 55 - 66

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pomr-2013-0027

KeywordsSMPs, BER, Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)

This content is open access.

Keywords
SMPs, BER, Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)