Analytical methodology for assessing similarities/differences between Ports

The analysis of similarities and differences between ports at the global level can help the Maritime ecosystem for different purposes, including business planning, operation, and regulation. Our methodology is demonstrated in a particular case of interest as the "short sea shipping" traffic through a harbour. However, no structural limit to the scope of adaptation is introduced. The new methodology proposed for Ports builds on a recent framework of Matrices of Sets, where the computational efficiency of matrices is combined with the versatility and flexibility of sets to capture quantitative and qualitative information. Origin Destination (OD) Matrices of Sets (odMS) are cross tables where the value Mij placed at the intersection of a row (i) and a column (j) is a set of OD. The odMS framework aims to exploit the computational efficiency of OD matrices by combining it with the flexibility of sets. It suits qualitative and quantitative analysis of entities described. The case study is a European port network defined by several characteristics forming an odMS. Then, on an operational point of view, odMS method addresses the need for port authorities to benchmark and compare themselves with each other, with an aim to increase their competitiveness and to identify and characterise their competitors or possible partners in port alliances (estimate complementarities and compatibility within such alliances).