This paper aims to analyze the current and past situation of container maritime sector in Southern Italy, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of transhipment. This phenomenon can be considered as a valid indicator of ports evolution dynamics and of their organization.The analysis of transhipment and its tendency from mid-90s until today reveals: signs of distortion between supply and demand; consequent reorganization of the container liner services by shipping companies: phenomena of concentration of traffic on specific ports or clusters.On the basis of the above considerations, this analysis is accompanied by a careful study of strategic dynamics which have taken place within the container maritime sector, at global level.

Subsequently, it has to be done a quantitative research phase, followed by a qualitative one, in which are collected and processed traffic data for the main container ports in the Mediterranean, taking as reference the last two decades.

The ultimate goal is to develop a model that analyzing and anticipating the future dynamics of the maritime routes that cross the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on transhipment, defining the role of the main ports of transhipment hubs of Southern Italy.