Potential freight distribution improvements using motorways of the sea

Pau Morales-Fusco, Sergi Saurí and Alejandro Lago

Journal of Transport Geography, 2012, vol. 24, issue C, 1-11

Abstract: This paper analyzes how the strategy taken by the cargo carrier when using motorways of the sea (understood as regular roll on/roll off short sea shipping lines) affects the competitiveness of the shipping line. Five different strategies were analyzed and grouped into three main types: road door-to-door transportation, road and sea transportation combined with a driver always accompanying the cargo and road and sea transportation where the cargo travels unaccompanied. The analysis provides formulae to calculate the economical and temporal cost differences from using a sea link in distribution and assesses the risk and investments necessary to maximize the profit for each strategy. The paper ends identifying the critical points affecting the competitiveness of short sea shipping roll on/roll off lines and proposes policies that could help in its development and success.

Keywords: Motorways of the sea; Short sea shipping; Roll-on roll-off; Door-to-door; Modal shift; Cost model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:24:y:2012:i:c:p:1-11

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2012.05.007

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