Hub port competition is complicated by numerous decision-making criteria and multiple network structures while accelerating beyond regional boundaries due to the involvement of multiple players and enlargement of vessel size (Veldman, and Buckmann, 2003). Moreover, overlapping origin/destination markets served simultaneously by multiple cross regional hub ports create many alternative choices for shipping lines. Although there are existing port choice/competition studies, none of them focus on cross regional hub ports considering different liner networks with arrange of decision-making criteria. Therefore, this study fulfils the research gap by analysing hub port competitiveness for both hub & spoke and relay networks considering multiple qualitative and quantitative criteria. The network configuration of hub &s poke and relay is illustrated in Figure (1). Despite location advantages, the port of Colombo has serious exposure to a loss of trans-shipment market share due to competitive hub ports being located in surrounding regions. Moreover, the majority of trans-shipments of the Colombo Port is related to hub &spoke networks while the port does not have an important role in relay networks. Therefore, the study focuses on Port of Colombo located in South Asia, while three hub ports in Southeast Asia, namely Singapore (SIN), Klang (PKG) and Tanjung Pelapas (TPP) are considered its competitors. Competition is analysed for nine feeder ports in two feeder markets each related to the hub &spoke network as mentioned in Figure (2) and to relay networks as a general case.

Kavirathna, C.A., Tomoya, K., & Hanaoka, S. (2017). Competitive dynamics among cross regional hub ports: generalised cost approach [Extended Abstract]. In T.L. Gunaruwan (Ed.), Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Research for Transport and Logistics Industry 2017 (pp. 73-77). Sri Lanka Society of Transport and Logistics. https://slstl.lk/r4tli-2017/