Spatial Reconfigurations in Container Shipping Services Within the Mediterranean Cul-de-Sac (2022-2024)

Université le Havre Normandie, France ; IDEES, F-76600 Le Havre, France; CNRS, UMR 6266, F-76600 Le Havre, France

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The Red Sea crisis has impacted on the Mediterranean (Med) container port system. Major hub and transshipment Med ports remained the same during the 2022-2024 period while the spatial distribution of the secondary (medium-sized) and small Med containers ports & terminals have changed! So, the paper proposes elements of analysis relating to the positioning of the container shipping companies (CSC) calling at the secondary and small Med ports.

Based on the AIS signals emitted by container ships over two years, 2022 and 2024, we plan to study the restructuring of the Med container port system about the spatial distribution of the local Med transport supply. To do this, we first consider all containerships and then focus on medium and small local players using one simple table analysis method as well as an elementary bivariate approach and mapping.

We would like to discern the different strategic configurations for all those second ranking Med players & ports over the two years, which could result in:

• geographical reconfiguration of Med ports of call,

• localised competition in certain ports, where there would also be competition between local operators (CSC),

• partial withdrawal or gradual abandonment of certain ports, which could even result in completed withdrawal. The disruption of the Suez corridor has not only altered the connectivity of major Mediterranean hubs but has also fostered a relative increase in the activity of small and medium-sized shipping companies, leading to more frequent calls at secondary Mediterranean ports and a partial redistribution of maritime traffic within the region.

This analysis aims to contribute to the literature on spatial approaches related to contemporary port systems and maritime networks.