Feasibility Study on the Logistic Competitiveness of Commercial Seaports in Southern Baltic Sea Region

Abstract

This paper describes a feasibility study designed to determine the competitiveness of a seaport. The content presents a wholly unique approach to the examination and evaluation of the seaport competitiveness level based on the multi-criteria assessment model of their unique logistical characteristics. The research area is limited to the selected seaports located in the Southern BSR. This is the first stage of an international research programme using multi criteria logistics capabilities analysis combined with an adaptation of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method for seaports competition level assessment. The paper also identifies unique criteria, sub-criteria and evaluated diagnostic features (parts of the logistic capabilities chart) of selected Southern Baltic Sea ports facilities taken from an analysis of the main processes and commercial profiles in the seaports of Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin and Swinoujscie (Poland) and Rostock, Lubeck (Germany). A specific decisionmaking model for practical assessment of the hypothesised seaport logistics potential has been proposed as well as a group of speculative ventures designed to verify the proposed solutions in subsequent field research.