Defining maritime logistics hub and its implication for container port

Abstract

Since the hub-and-spoke concept was introduced to the aviation market after the US airline deregulation in the late 1970s, it becomes a primary distribution model employed by leading international logistics companies. This pattern drives the companies to consolidate shipments on the large scale at major terminals (i.e. hub) and to redistribute the smaller scale of shipments to their respective destinations via radial links (i.e. spoke). In the field of logistics and supply chains, however, the hub concept has been often introduced in various terms in accordance with functionality: for example, logistics centre, logistics zone, freight terminal, distribution centre and warehouse. Such a heterogeneous terminology on the concept of logistics hub seems still in usage by practitioners and academics alike. Having recognised this rather ambiguous concept and definition in the literature, this article attempts to define the concept applicable to the maritime industry by synthesising existing studies/perspectives and examine its possible implications.

Acknowledgements

An earlier version of this article was presented at the 12th WCTR in Lisbon held on 11–15 July 2010. The authors are grateful to the conference organiser and scientific committee members for constructive and helpful comments on the previous version, which are well embraced into the current version with the enhanced quality as it is. Due appreciation also goes to the guest editors of this special issue during the preparation and review process.