Abstract
Container shipping and ports play a decisive role for international trade development and in the organisation of global sourcing processes as well. In Italy more than 60% of the foreign trade goods is exchanged by means of sea transport, giving evidence of the relevance of the related shipping and port activities. The present study provides an innovative methodology aimed at outlining the role of port activities, filling the gap of traditional approaches based on the evaluation and on the comparison of mere quantitative data (for instance in terms of moved products tons and of transhipped containers). Besides measuring the port handling performances only, there needs to analyse the role and the functions of port systems in their respective market areas by means of further key indicators. In order to unfold the founding hypothesis of our methodology, the present work analyses Gioia Tauro port, one of the major Mediterranean containers transhipment hubs. The case study defines Gioia Tauro’s strategic value, by moving from the analysis of the supplied maritime and ground services, and finally by considering its role in the national and international maritime economy.