ABSTRACT
A port hinterland is the landward side of a cargo port – that is, a "scatter of inland points of cargo origin/destination generating the traffic flows passing through a specific port". A hinterland transport chain is a transport network over which: cargo imported into a hinterland via its seaport is transported by an intermodal carrier from the seaport to an importer in the network. Cargo exported from the hinterland is transported by an intermodal carrier from the exporter in the network to the network's seaport. In addition to dry ports, cargo importers may also utilize distribution centers in its hinterland. A cargo importer may have its cargo transported from the port to its distribution center, where the cargo is stored for its eventual distribution to the importer's hinterland retail stores. A port's foreland is the land area on the seaward side of a port with which the port is connected by water carriers.
