Evaluation of the port development of the Caspian Sea

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.S of Regional Planning, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

In the global supply chain, a seaport plays a pivotal role in linking exporters and importers, facilitating trade, and developing the city and hinterland areas as a crucial part of the multimodal network. The aim of this research was to evaluate the level of development of ports in the Caspian Sea coastal strip and to examine the position of countries in this region in terms of facilitating trade and developing hinterland areas. After general studies and comparison of factors and sub-criteria, 12 prominent ports of Caspian Sea were selected. In the first stage, a questionnaire was designed to obtain the opinions of 8 experts to understand the importance of each factor and its sub-criteria in evaluating the level of port development using the FUCOM method. According to the conducted survey, external land factors with a weight of 0.404 had the most impact on port selection. In the second stage, using the results of the questionnaire and based on the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MARCOS) method, the Caspian Sea ports were ranked based on their level of development. The results showed that Astrakhan Port with a score of (0.737) ranked first, Baku Port with a score of (0.714) ranked second, and the Russian port of Makhachkala and the Turkmenbashi port of Turkmenistan are in third and fourth place with scores of (0.531 and 0.522), respectively. Among the Iranian ports, Amir Abad Port with a score of (0.508) was recognized as the most developed port in northern Iran, Anzali Port with a score of (0.321) and Nowshahr Port with a score of (0.297) ranked fifth, eighth and tenth.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Arasteh, M., & Zarei, M (2022). An analysis of the development level of ports in Bushehr Province. Journal of Geography and Development, 20(66).
https://doi.org/10.22111/J10.22111.2022.6726
Amini, D., & Asanloo, A (2014). Comparison of the development level of Persian Gulf ports using the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making model. Journal of Border Studies, 3(2), 1-20.
Parizadi, T., Asadi, S., Gholichi, M. M., & Sheikhi, H (2012). Investigation and analysis of the relative advantages of regional development in northern Iranian ports using the integration of TOPSIS and ELECTRE techniques. Regional Planning Quarterly, 2(4).
https://civilica.com/doc/1916166/
Dovali, M. M., & Masoumzadeh Jouzdani, R (2021). Prioritization of port selection criteria by international transportation companies (hierarchical analysis approach). Bi-monthly Journal of Trade Studies, 19(109).
https://civilica.com/doc/1412016
Zarei, M., & Arasteh, M (2023). Evaluation of the development status of ports on the northern and southern coasts of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Journal of Geography and Development, 21(73).
https://doi.org/10.22111/gdij.2023.45382.3513
Mohammadi, A., Samaei, F., Ameli Diva, Z., & Arayi Doron Kolai, H (2017). Evaluation of Persian Gulf ports based on multi-criteria decision-making models with a fuzzy approach. Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 22(87), 38-47.
https://civilica.com/doc/888316/
Akbulaev, N., & Bayramli, G (2020). Maritime transport and economic growth: Interconnection and influence (an example of the countries in the Caspian Sea coast; Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Iran). Marine Policy, 118, 104005.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104005
Bortas, I., Kolanović, I., & Vilke, S (2022). Model for port service quality and intermodality assessment applying fuzzy logic. Pomorstvo, 36(2), 214-222.
https://doi.org/10.31217/p.36.2.5
Bussières, P.-O (2023). The Middle Corridor: A geopolitical game-changer in Eurasian trade. Geopolitical Monitor. 2023, October 9.
https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/the-middle-corridor-a-geopolitical-game-changer-in-eurasian-trade/
Dadashpoor, H., & Arasteh, M (2020). Core-port connectivity: Towards shaping a national hinterland in a West Asia country. Transport Policy, 88, 57-68.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.01.015
De Martino, M., & Morvillo, A (2008). Activities, resources and inter-organizational relationships: Key factors in port competitiveness. Maritime Policy & Management, 35(6), 571-589.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03088830802469477
Ding, J.-F., Kuo, J.-F., Shyu, W.-H., & Chou, C.-C (2019). Evaluating determinants of attractiveness and their cause-effect relationships for container ports in Taiwan: Users’ perspectives. Maritime Policy & Management, 46(4), 466-490.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2018.1562245
Feng, X., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., & Wang, W (2013). A location-allocation model for seaport-dry port system optimization. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2013, e309585.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/309585
French, R. A (1979). Competition among selected eastern Canadian ports for foreign cargoes. Maritime Policy & Management, 6(1), 5-13.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03088837900000042
Gao, T., Na, S., Dang, X., & Zhang, Y (2018). Study of the competitiveness of Quanzhou Port on the Belt and Road in China based on a Fuzzy-AHP and ELECTRE III model. Sustainability, 10(4), Article 4.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su10041253
Kaliszewski, A., Kozłowski, A., Dąbrowski, J., & Klimek, H (2020). Key factors of container port competitiveness: A global shipping lines perspective. Marine Policy, 117, 103896.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103896
Li, Z., Luan, W., Wang, X., Wan, S., Su, M., & Zhang, Z (2022). Spatial expansion regular pattern and driving factors of estuarine and coastal harbors. Ocean & Coastal Management, 216, 105980.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105980
Liu, J., Wang, X., & Guo, J (2021). Port efficiency and its influencing factors in the context of Pilot Free Trade Zones. Transport Policy, 105, 67-79.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.02.011
Martínez Moya, J., & Feo Valero, M (2017). Port choice in container market: A literature review. Transport Reviews, 37(3), 300-321.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2016.1231233
Mana.ir (2022). Solyanka Port, a strategic base for the development of Iran-Russia trade (World).
http://mana.ir/fa/news/94193
Min, H., & Park, B.-I (2020). A two-dimensional approach to assessing the impact of port selection factors on port competitiveness using the Kano model. Maritime Economics & Logistics, 22(3), 353-382.
https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-019-00117-7
Mou, N., Wang, C., Chen, J., Yang, T., Zhang, L., & Liao, M (2021). Spatial pattern of location advantages of ports along the Maritime Silk Road. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 31(1), 149-176.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-021-1837-9
Munim, Z. H., Hasan, K. R., Schramm, H.-J., & Tusher, H. M (2022). A port attractiveness assessment framework: Chittagong Port’s attractiveness from the users’ perspective. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 10(1), 463-471.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2022.01.007
Notteboom, T (2008). The relationship between seaports and the inter-modal hinterland in light of global supply chains. OECD.
https://doi.org/10.1787/235371341338
Parola, F., Risitano, M., Ferretti, M., & Panetti, E (2017). The drivers of port competitiveness: A critical review. Transport Reviews, 37(1), 116-138.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2016.1231232
Pamučar, D., Stević, Ž., & Sremac, S (2018). A new model for determining weight coefficients of criteria in MCDM models: Full Consistency Method (FUCOM). Symmetry, 10(9), Article 9.
https://doi.org/10.3390/sym10090393
Pototskaya, T. I (2021). Geographical factors of determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea. Geopolitics and Ecogeodynamics of Regions, 6(16)(4), 22-35.
https://doi.org/10.37279/2309-7663-2020-6-4-22-35
Rizzi, A (2024). Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route. ECFR.2024, April 11.
https://ecfr.eu/article/risk-and-reward-why-the-eu-should-develop-the-middle-corridor-trade-route/
Rodrigue, J.-P (2004). Freight, gateways and mega-urban regions: The logistical integration of the Bostwash Corridor. Tijdschrift Voor Economische En Sociale Geografie, 95(2), 147-161.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0040-747X.2004.t01-1-00297.x
Rodrigue, J.-P., & Notteboom, T (2009). The terminalization of supply chains: Reassessing the role of terminals in port/hinterland logistical relationships. Maritime Policy & Management, 36(2), 165-183.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03088830902861086
Rodrigue, J.-P., Notteboom, T., Pallis, A., & Paul, J (2022). Port Economics, Management and Policy. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429318184
Veenboer, D. P (2014). The port-city relationship [Master’s thesis, Erasmus School of Economics].
https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/17556/
Wagner, N., Kotowska, I., & Pluciński, M (2022). The impact of improving the quality of the port’s infrastructure on the shippers’ decisions. Sustainability, 14(10), Article 10.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106255
Wang, J., Mo, L., & Ma, Z (2023). Evaluation of port competitiveness along China’s “Belt and Road” based on the entropy-TOPSIS method. Scientific Reports, 13(1), Article 1.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42755-1
Wang, Y., Jung, K.-A., Yeo, G.-T., & Chou, C.-C (2014). Selecting a cruise port of call location using the fuzzy-AHP method: A case study in East Asia. Tourism Management, 42, 262-270.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.11.005
Geography and Development
Volume 23, Issue 80 - Serial Number 80
September 2025
Pages 23-50

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 09 July 2024
  • Revise Date: 18 February 2025
  • Accept Date: 24 February 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics