ABSTRACT
In general, port management operates on a plane driven by maritime market directions and the ability of the port to meet its customers’ needs. For instance, all one needs to do to appreciate the competition among ports in the container-shipping business is to take a look at a map of the southeastern coast of the United States. Moving from south to north, the deepwater ports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston are just a few of the U.S. ports that engage in some type of cargo-shipping business. While each port has its unique market niche, operating conditions, and business models, the fact is that the world’s container-shipping fleet has many choices it can make when it comes to deciding which port to do business with. If the Port of Miami cannot handle an increase in container capacity, Port Everglades, just twenty-five miles north, may be able to. The reality is that shippers and cargo operators make decisions based on what works best for their customers and their business models. If containers coming off ships in one
port are being delayed by ground-level traffic management issues, it may be just as easy for them to move their deliveries to another port.
