This paper aims to explore opportunities and modalities regarding corporate social responsibility of port logistics, in order to improve attractiveness and competitiveness of sea supply chains, almost paradoxically also in the perspective of increasing the traffics managed by global logistic players. In particular, beyond the traditional determinants of sea-ports’ efficiency, the study identifies the integration of processes among the different agents involved in the maritime supply chain as the keystone to increase the levels of efficacy, responsibility, and competitiveness. Important contributions for the integration is played firstly by the digitalization of seaport-related activities, but also by the evolution of sea-terminals towards a ‘social supply chain management’ approach, as a consequence of the implementation of corporate social responsibility practices in single nodes. A case study has been conducted on the Port of Venice, which has been compared with three important sea-terminals of Southern Italy: Naples, Gioia Tauro, and Bari.

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.

The research in Italian version can be download for free

This paper (Italian language) will show that maritime transport is a dynamic sector, a business that over time has attracted investments also from abroad; it has a historical value and has resisted, and is still resisting, not without difficulty, to the crisis, by consistently seeking new paths and solutions to offer increasingly fast and efficient connections.
This paper’s aim is therefore to analyse the role played by maritime transport as a competitiveness-building factor, its importance for the economy, and its growth prospects. With the support of data and statistics, the paper will highlight the value of the sector at the international level, in terms of the country system as well as of individual regional territories, by means of case studies.

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SRM presents a new research dedicated to Italy’s logistics assets, drawing a 360 degree analysis of the sector, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, the risks and opportunities at play. The aim of this new study is to define four “pillars” for the development of logistics, a solid and necessary platform from which to boost the sector’s takeoff in Italy.
To achieve this aim, the project identifies the most important obstacles that are holding back the sector, examines possible strategies to relaunch investments in infrastructure, outlines potential growth horizons in terms of countries and territories, and stigmatises errors which must not be repeated in future cohesion policies.

Book + Appendix (Italian language).

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This research (English and Italian version) is extracted from the Annual Report “Italian Maritime Economy. New routes for growth” and is written by Ennio Forte, Full Professor in Transport Economics and Logistics at the University of Naples “Federico II”. The research describes the role of the Short Sea Shipping (SSS) in the transition from a Eurocentric model to a Euro-Mediterranean one. In fact, the scenario for maritime flow has shifted its center; within the framework of flows that effect the Mediterranean, the SSS are more influential in the choice of a dominant co-modal maritime routes in the modalland-sea exchange in order to achieve lower logistics cost.

This report aims to analyze the influence of the so called “alliances” of container shipping companies, at global level, and their related impacts on the Italian port system and in particular on the maritime economy of the Mezzogiorno. In specific, the study will consider the full container liner services that have called the Italian ports before the entry into the scene of the two main alliances 2M and O3, on the global maritime market, and will be compared with the new services that are active from February 2015. These data allow to conduct a deep and structured study on a very timely topic: the adaptation of the physical and management structures of the Italian ports to the new types of ships. The so-called Vessel Sharing Agreements (VSA) have been and are still a strategic instrument adopted by major worldwide carriers in order to optimize the use of vessels and simultaneously reducing transport costs of the principal world routes.

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the perspectives and the economic benefits that the expansion of the Panama Canal will entail for the transport and the logistics industry at world level and in the Mediterranean. The consequences linked to this expansion will in fact be considerable. The paper also proposes a cost comparison between the main competing routes, the implications for cargo and trades and the composition of the global market. From North America, Latin America, Europe to Asia in fact, suddenly many nations will see the opening of alternative naval routes to access the markets.

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Synthesis Report (September 2013)

This report provides a synthesis of main findings from the OECD Port-Cities Programme, created in 2010 in order to assess the impact of ports on their cities and provide policy recommendations to increase the positive impacts of ports on their cities. This Programme was directed by Olaf Merk, Administrator Port-Cities within the OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate. The synthesis report is based on findings from a series of OECD Port-Cities case studies. Such case studies were conducted for Le Havre/Rouen/Paris/Caen (France), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Marseille (France), Mersin (Turkey), Rotterdam/Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Antofagasta (Chile), Bratislava/Komárno/Štúrova (Slovak Republic), Durban (South Africa) and Shanghai (China). The OECD Port-Cities Programme also benefited from visits to the following ports and port-cities and discussion with port-related actors in the following port-cities: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Singapore, Casablanca, Venice, Trieste, Genoa, Valparaíso, Varna, Gdansk, Koper, Vienna, Antwerp, Felixstowe, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Sydney and Newcastle (Australia).

The report in the English version can be downloaded for free.
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The work starts by analysing the main factors for the competitiveness of Italian logistics in relation to the processes of globalisation and of enterprise internationalisation. Then the paper moves on to examining the new geography of world trade, and its effects on maritime transport. After an overview of Italian interport facilities, the paper continues with an analyses of the logistics relations between Italy and the Mediterranean. The work ends with the interviews carried out with important representatives of trade associations, the world of finance, and the corporate worlds; plus the case studies on the logistics system, which offer the reader a closer look at the sector from a dual perspective: territorial and industrial.

The book is in English. To request the version on paper (35 euros + shipping costs) write to comunicazione@sr-m.it

It has been given an important role in development policies and urban regeneration to the accessibility and to the renewed interest in the growth of trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea, concurrently with the development of cruise tourism and the awareness about the necessary implementation of green policies. Lately, in this context, a strategic role has been played by Apulian ports (Bari, Brindisi and Taranto) which have tried to adopt the principles of environmental sustainability and have allowed firms to exercise significant leadership functions by implementing a good interaction, although it isn’t complete yet, between port system and economic system, through the authorities and the local political institutions. The goal to be undertaken is the consideration of accessibility in Apulia which, as it’s known, doesn’t concern only the presence of natural factors. Therefore, for a proper economic and social development, we can’t ignore the observation and analysis of the environmental and cultural reality in which systems identified are included, because it helps to un-derstand if there are favorable conditions in the environment or impediments to its development.

This paper (English and Italian version)  analyses the Italian maritime trade with the rest of the world and especially with the Med area. The analyses contains a focus entitled “Italian regions: the importance of maritime transport for exports”. With this research SRM has attended the XVI Conference of the SIET (Italian Association of Transport Economics and Logistics), that was held in Florence from 8th to 10th October 2014.

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The aim of this research is to deepen, through analysis of benchmarks and best practices, the role of public policy in supporting intermodal rail to and from the ports aimed at raising their competitiveness and at mitigating the environmental externalities that affect the relationship between the port and the city, in Green port logic. The core of this work is focused on the cases of Italy, Spain, France and Slovenia in order to identify the organizational and trade aspects of direct investment promoted by the public sector and aimed at promoting intermodal rail transportation to and from the ports within the North Western Mediterranean. Leaf through the book

The research (English and Italian version) may be purchased from this website
in digital version, at a discounted price.

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This paper intends to call attention to the major economic repercussions expected in the sectors of transport, logistics, tourism, and in the businesses directly or indirectly associated with the intercontinental maritime transport deriving from the enlargement of the Suez Canal and in the synergic logistics activities planned by the Egyptian Government and expected to be completed in the next few years. The study is structured so as to address the role of Egypt within the world supply chain and the effects of its most recent strategic investments in maritime and port economy. The study, in particular, analyzes the traffic trends and the new infrastructure built along the Suez Canal. The analysis offers an exhaustive overview of the expanding work in the Suez Canal as well as the enlargement of the ports on the Egyptian Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts which can be the principal beneficiaries of the work along with those overlooking the Gulf. The last part contains a summary of the evaluation of the direct and indirect economic effects, with an insight on maritime and port economy.

abstract
srm paper presentation (29-11-15)
press release (29-11-15)

SRM’s research provides data and statistics on traffic, fleet size, areas of development in the industry and the strengths and weaknesses of maritime transport, without neglecting issues connected with the presence of strong and clever international competitors in the areas of shipping and port logistics services. More specifically, attention is focused on Italy’s “commercial influence” in the Mediterranean and on the maritime traffic to and from the Med Area, with an indication of the intensity of trade and the main partners involved, most notably Turkey, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. The report shows the presence of centres of excellence, such as the Campania maritime cluster and the ports of Genoa and Trieste, which are the three engines of our maritime economy.

The book is in English. To request the version on paper (35 euros + shipping costs) write to comunicazione@sr-m.it