The effect of port and container terminal characteristics on terminal performance

Abstract

This study examines port and container terminal characteristics, and assesses how they affect performance. Little research has addressed the relationship between location, physical infrastructure (hard) and service (soft) characteristics, and container terminal performance. The present study fills this research gap. Performance is explained using a holistic perspective involving multivariate factors. A questionnaire sent to 12 container terminals in Portugal and Spain yielded 122 responses. Structural equation modelling confirmed the influence of port and terminal characteristics on container terminal performance. Performance was measured in terms of efficiency, activity and customer satisfaction. Five main characteristics were found to influence container terminal performance: regional and continental location, sea and land access, maritime shipping services, dynamism of port authorities, and terminal organization and logistics integration.