Key factors of seaport competitiveness based on the stakeholder perspective: An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model

In their decisions, seaport stakeholders internalize various factors that intervene in seaport competitiveness. The literature emphasizes that such seaport characteristics are important in the stakeholder choice of seaports. Given today’s competitive environment, it becomes imperative that seaport managers develop the ability to determine which factors stakeholders perceive as critical. This research aims to empirically study the key factors of seaport competitiveness from the perspective of Iberian seaports stakeholders by applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model. The Delphi approach is deployed for the preliminary factor selection stages in an AHP context. Our initial results demonstrate that seaport users and seaport service providers differ in their understanding of the key factors of seaport competitiveness. From the seaport authorities and terminal operators’ perspective, seaport facilities and equipment is the most important factor followed by channel depth, intermodal links, vessel turnaround time and proximity to import/export areas. Vessel turnaround time is considered by ocean carriers as the most influential factor to competitiveness, followed by intermodal links, seaport facilities and equipment, proximity to import/export areas and channel depth.