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The effect of foldable containers on the costs of container fleet management in liner shipping networks

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Maritime Economics & Logistics Aims and scope

Abstract

This article analyses the way in which foldable containers could potentially lower the costs of container fleet management in liner shipping networks. An integer programming model is used to obtain an optimal fleet mix of foldable and standard containers. It emerges that savings could be realised in the management costs of container fleets by applying a proper combination of the two. It also emerges that the economic viability of foldable containers depends on the level of trade imbalances and the exploitation costs of the containers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank two anonymous referees for their time, support and helpful suggestions that have improved this article to a great extent. This study was co-funded by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) No. 22510149 and No. 24510218 the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Shipping Technology, Oshima National College of Maritime Technology, Suo-oshima, Oshima, Yamaguchi, 742-2193, Japan

    Koichi Shintani

  2. OTB Research Institute for the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5030, Delft, 2600, GA, The Netherlands

    Rob Konings

  3. Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Fukae, Higashinada, 658-0022, Kobe, Japan

    Akio Imai

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  1. Koichi Shintani
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  2. Rob Konings
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  3. Akio Imai
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Shintani, K., Konings, R. & Imai, A. The effect of foldable containers on the costs of container fleet management in liner shipping networks. Marit Econ Logist 14, 455–479 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1057/mel.2012.16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/mel.2012.16

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