ABSTRACT
Ports are clusters of companies and economic activities. Port clusters exhibit strong scale and scope advantages linked to physical cargo flows. The process of cluster formation takes place at two scales. The first concerns the clustering of ports around a maritime range, and the second concerns the clustering of activities around a port. Ports use infrastructures to channel ships and vehicles and to accommodate cargo and information flows. Government agencies and organizations develop activities linked to cargo and vessel operations in ports. Goods can undergo logistics transformations in the port area, which is defined as port-centric logistics. There exists a wide range of industrial activities that typically locate in port areas. Industrial clusters in ports often rely on sustainable industrial symbiosis or sustainable industrial ecosystems. Many seaports are home to large energy plants. Many seaports also play an essential role in the distribution of natural gas.
