Gi-Tae Yeo

Modelling port choice in an uncertain environment

Port choice is an important issue to be investigated to ensure the effective integration of container supply chains and the sustainable development of regional economy. The selection of appropriate ports to facilitate shipping activities and international trade is crucial for many stakeholders, including shipping lines, port administrators, cargo shippers and national governments. The task is essentially a process of multiple criterion decision-making (MCDM) under uncertainty, requiring analysts to derive rational decisions from uncertain and incomplete data related to different quantitative and qualitative determinants. This paper aims at proposing a new conceptual port choice method by explaining the role fuzzy logic in evidential reasoning in a complementary way, in which various forms of raw data (either objective or subjective) collected to evaluate port performance can first be converted into and presented as fuzzy grades defined using linguistics terms with degrees of belief (DoBs) and second be combined using evidential reasoning to produce a port choice preference score. The method is applied to analyse the selection of major Northeast Asian (NEA) container ports from a shipping line’s perspective. The outcome, a port choice preference score, is calculated using evidential reasoning to directly synthesize the true estimation of the port with respect to each criterion and therefore, unlike a relative ranking index, keeps the ‘goodness’ of port evaluation, capable of benchmarking a specific port’s performance and monitoring the increase of its competitiveness in a longitude study with respect to an individual criterion or all the criteria as a whole.

Measuring the competitiveness of container ports: logisticians' perspectives

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to measuring container port competitiveness, a key but neglected element of channel management in a complex and dynamic logistics environment underpinned by commercial confidence and trust in European supply chains fed with goods from container ports in Northeast Asia.Design/methodology/approach – This study applies a fuzzy methodology to measure port competitiveness based on the expert judgements of logisticians. It applies a trapezoidal fuzzy number to measure their perceptions. The method accepts a linguistic expression of their judgements of five of the worlds top six container ports in terms of container through‐puts, including Hong Kong, Busan, Shanghai, Kaohsuing, Shenzhen. Qindao ranked 16th and Tokyo ranked 20th were also analyzed.Findings – Hong Kong achieved the highest score on port service but on hinterland conditions Shanghai scored highest and Busan the lowest. Hong Kong topped the ratings on the availability factor and the conv...

Weighting the competitiveness factors for container ports under conflicting interests.

AbstractGenerally, an evaluation of container port competitiveness is regarded as a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem which involves various stakeholders with conflicting interests. To solve MCDM problems, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method has been popular, but problems arise in managing uncertainty among decision makers, and contradictory opinions. The key issue discussed in this paper is how to obtain compromise weights (CWs) using a combined AHP procedure. This procedure incorporates Dempster-Shafer theory for eliminating uncertainty in the evaluation, and a levelling process for adjusting the contradictory opinions of each group, a so-called multiple decision-making group problem. For an empirical analysis, container ports located in Northeast Asia, known to exhibit severe port competition, were selected. Using an adoption of the methodology, the matrix of CWs was obtained. Using this matrix permits an exact evaluation of competitiveness in the sampled container ports.

The effects of intra- and extra-organisational integration capabilities in the container shipping freight industry

This study empirically investigates the effects of intra- and extra-organisational integration capabilities on supply chain logistics integration, specifically in the context of container shipping freight forwarders and port logistics. Using survey data collected from the member directory of the Korea International Freight Forwarder Association and Korea Port Logistics Association, structural equation modelling was used to examine the effects of intra- and extra-organisational integration capabilities on supply chain logistics integration. Confirmatory factor analysis identified six main dimensions of intra- and extra-organisational integration: top management support, internal integration, information technology, commitment, sharing, and long-term relationship. The results also indicate that extra-organisational integration fully mediated the relationship between intra-organisational integration and supply chain logistics integration. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed regarding the findings for intra- and extra-organisational integration capabilities and intensity of supply chain logistics integration in the context of container shipping operations.

Intermodal route selection for cargo transportation from Korea to Central Asia by adopting Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy ELECTRE I methods

ABSTRACT Due to the increase in trade from Korea to Central Asia, an efficient intermodal route for transporting cargo is important. Intermodal routing for long-distance transportation faces operational challenges, such as customs clearance, track gauge differences, and climate limitations. The initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt recently proposed in China could improve trade and transport links in Asia and create an efficient transportation route that focuses on the railroad service provided in China. The objective of this study is to obtain an evaluation structure for intermodal routing and then find the route for transporting cargo from Korea to Central Asia under China’s Silk Road Economic Belt with integrated Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy (Elimination Et Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE) I methods. After a sensitivity analysis is performed, development strategies and alternative routes are suggested. The results show that among the five principal factors, total cost is the most important factor for logistics companies when they select a transportation route, followed by reliability, transportation capability, total time, and security. Of the sub-factor weights, transportation costs and cooperation and emphasis among state organization are important. In the intermodal route results, route 3, Incheon to Qingdao to Horgos to Almaty, is preferred.

Perceived competencies required for container shipping logisticians in Singapore and South Korea

Purpose – Managing container shipping logistics requires people with good competencies, especially in the time of new challenges. The purpose of this paper is to validate a new framework of competencies for container shipping logistics professionals. Design/methodology/approach – The competency framework was proposed through a comprehensive literature review process followed by in-depth interviews with senior maritime logistics executives both in Singapore and South Korea. It contains three groups of business-, logistics- and management-related competencies, with each group further being classified into generalist and maritime-specific skills and knowledge. A confirmatory survey was also conducted in both countries. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and thematic analysis technique. Findings – It was found that all competencies proposed in this framework are important and perceived to contribute to work performance of container shipping logisticians. Findings also revealed that those competencies ...

Comparative analysis of port competency requirements in Vietnam and Korea

ABSTRACT Much research has been conducted recently on the changing role of ports in the context of international logistics and supply chain management focusing on issues such as port efficiency and competitiveness. However, little research has been found on the critical aspect that contributes to making a port efficient and effective, especially, in the new era: the port human capital. As seaports play a critical role in the supply chain, it is thus important that the port personnel possess necessary competencies to contribute to port efficiency and turn the port into an effective supply chain partner. In this paper, this research issue is explored through a conceptual model of competencies and validated empirically by a survey with port executives in Vietnam and Korea. As a result, important managerial insights are drawn to the design and implementation of human resource development policy for ports.

A Study on the role of port operation organizations for the development of a region port

This study is aimed to extract the key role of port operation organizations for the development of region ports and identify the operating efficiency priorities of three ports such as Busan, Incheon and UIsan port operated by PA(port authority). The Factor Analysis(FA) and Fuzzy Method were used as the analysis methodes. As an important role of port authority and regional maritime affairs & port office, thirteen sub-evaluation factors and four top-level evaluation factors were selected using the FA. Among the top-level evaluation factors i.e. `port security, information management`, service for regional society and customers`, `port marketing` and `customer attraction`, the most important factor was identified as `port marketing`. The total port efficiency was evaluated using these factors and Fuzzy Method. As a result, Busan ranked 1st, followed by Incheon and Ulsan.

A Study on forecasting container volume of port using SD and ARIMA

The forecasting of container volume which is the basis of port logistics facilities expansion has a great influence on development of an port. Based on this importance, various previous studies have presented methodology on container volume forecasting. The results of many previous studies pointed out the limitations of future forecasting based on past container volume and emphasized that more various factors should be considered to compensate this. Taking notice of this point, this study forecasted future container volume by using ARIMA model, time series analysis and System Dynamics (SD) method, a dynamic analysis technique and performed the comparative review with the forecast of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime affairs. Recently with rapid changes in economic and social environment, the non-linear change tendency for forecasting container traffic is presented as a new alternative to the country.

A Study on Measuring the Efficiency of Korea-China Car Ferry Routes by using Data Envelopment Analysis

In this prolonged economic recession, the countries in Northeast Asia play a crucial role in the global market and the relationship between Korea and China gets more attention due to its significant achievement during the past 20 years after the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. In this regards, this study presents general overview of Korea-China Car Ferry Route and evaluates the efficiency level of each operating route using DEA model. Incheon-Yingkou, Incheon-Lianyungang, Pyeong TaekLianyungang are analyzed as efficent routes, while from the view point of passenger efficiency, 4 routes i.e, Incheon-Dalian, Incheon-Dandong, Pyeong TaekWeihai, Gunsan-Shidao are also noted as efficient routes. Consequently, other inefficient routes can benchmark these efficient routes by increasing cargo volume and passengers.