Development and Formation of Shipping Networks in the Contemporary Shipping Environment

摘要

A shipping network is a form of collaboration in the shipping industry where players such as carriers, intermodal service providers, container management service providers, and container terminal operators share resources and assets to develop mutually beneficial strategies and seek operational performance gains. Because of the globalization and the intensified competition in the 21~(st) century, we suggest that the firms apply the concept of agility responding to change in proper ways and due time as well as exploiting changes and taking advantage of them as opportunities in the dynamic business environment. On the basis, we illustrate the key elements are desirable for the development and operation of horizontal and vertical shipping networks to leverage their inherent resources and enhance their capabilities respectively. Theoretical and practical implications of our research findings on the shipping networks development are also discussed in this study.