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The polarization of global container flows by interoceanic canals: geographic coverage and network vulnerability

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  • César Ducruet

    (GC (UMR_8504) - Géographie-cités - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - UPD7 - Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, EconomiX - EconomiX - UPN - Université Paris Nanterre - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that the two major interoceanic canals of Suez and Panama play a central role in global shipping flows. However, this role has rarely been measured with precision both in terms of the geographic coverage and network topological properties of canal-dependent flows. Based on vessel movement data for containerships, this research clarifies the weight and share of canal-dependent flows globally and at the level of world regions, routes, and ports. It also estimates and maps the effects of removing canal-dependent flows from the network by means of graph-theoretical methods. While main results converge in showing a decreasing importance of canal shipping in the context of growing south-south trade exchanges, certain areas remain more dependent than others, such as Asia, Europe, and North America. The research also underlines factors of port vulnerability across the globe in relation with the two canals.

Suggested Citation

  • César Ducruet, 2016. "The polarization of global container flows by interoceanic canals: geographic coverage and network vulnerability," Post-Print halshs-00749639, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00749639
    DOI: 10.1080/03088839.2015.1022612
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00749639v3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. César Ducruet & Sung-Woo Lee & Adolf K.Y. Ng, 2010. "Centrality and vulnerability in liner shipping networks: revisiting the Northeast Asian port hierarchy," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 17-36, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dirzka, Christopher & Acciaro, Michele, 2022. "Global shipping network dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic's initial phases," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Laure Rousset & César Ducruet, 2020. "Disruptions in Spatial Networks: a Comparative Study of Major Shocks Affecting Ports and Shipping Patterns," Post-Print halshs-02588551, HAL.
    3. Jasper Verschuur & Raghav Pant & Elco Koks & Jim Hall, 2022. "A systemic risk framework to improve the resilience of port and supply-chain networks to natural hazards," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 24(3), pages 489-506, September.
    4. Liehui Wang & Yuanbo Zheng & Cesar Ducruet & Fan Zhang, 2019. "Investment Strategy of Chinese Terminal Operators along the “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-21, April.
    5. Tagawa, Hoshi & Kawasaki, Tomoya & Hanaoka, Shinya, 2022. "Evaluation of international maritime network configuration and impact of port cooperation on port hierarchy," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 14-24.
    6. Bai, Xiwen & Lam, Jasmine Siu Lee, 2019. "A destination choice model for very large gas carriers (VLGC) loading from the US Gulf," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 1267-1275.
    7. Nicanor García Álvarez & Belarmino Adenso-Díaz & Laura Calzada-Infante, 2021. "Maritime Traffic as a Complex Network: a Systematic Review," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 387-417, June.
    8. Mou, Naixia & Wang, Chunying & Yang, Tengfei & Ren, Haonan & Zhang, Lingxian & Xu, Huanqing & Liu, Wenbao, 2022. "Spatiotemporal patterns of maritime trade between China and Maritime Silk Road: Evidence from a quantitative study using social network analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    9. César Ducruet, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Post-Print halshs-02922543, HAL.
    10. Nadia M. Viljoen & Johan W. Joubert, 2018. "The Road most Travelled: The Impact of Urban Road Infrastructure on Supply Chain Network Vulnerability," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 85-113, March.
    11. Laure Rousset & César Ducruet, 2020. "Disruptions in Spatial Networks: a Comparative Study of Major Shocks Affecting Ports and Shipping Patterns," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 423-447, June.
    12. Liehui Wang & Yuanbo Zheng & César Ducruet & Fan Zhang, 2019. "Investment Strategy of Chinese Terminal Operators along the “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”," Post-Print halshs-02092097, HAL.
    13. Kashin Sugishita & Yasuo Asakura, 2021. "Vulnerability studies in the fields of transportation and complex networks: a citation network analysis," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-34, March.
    14. Viljoen, Nadia M. & Joubert, Johan W., 2016. "The vulnerability of the global container shipping network to targeted link disruption," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 462(C), pages 396-409.
    15. Chien-Yun Yuan & Cheng-Hsien Hsieh & Dong-Taur Su, 2020. "Effects of new shipping routes on the operational resilience of container lines: potential impacts of the Arctic Sea Route and the Kra Canal on the Europe-Far East seaborne trades," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(2), pages 308-325, June.
    16. Pablo E. Achurra-Gonzalez & Panagiotis Angeloudis & Nils Goldbeck & Daniel J. Graham & Konstantinos Zavitsas & Marc E. J. Stettler, 2019. "Evaluation of port disruption impacts in the global liner shipping network," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Van den Berghe, Karel & Daamen, Tom, 2019. "From Planning the Port/City to Planning the Port-City. Exploring the Economic Interface in European Port Cities," SocArXiv qtuyf, Center for Open Science.
    18. Peng, Peng & Yang, Yu & Cheng, Shifen & Lu, Feng & Yuan, Zimu, 2019. "Hub-and-spoke structure: Characterizing the global crude oil transport network with mass vessel trajectories," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 966-974.

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