An application of multi-criteria analysis to the location of a container hub port in South Africa

Abstract

The South African container port system is subject to a major revision of the existing port hierarchy. The aim is to move away from a set of gateway ports to a hub port configuration. Such a shift would allow the South African port system to benefit better from market dynamics. This paper deals with the application of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to the evaluation of three alternative locations for the development of a large hub port in the South African container port system (i.e. Durban, Richards Bay and Ngqura). Three groups of selection criteria are identified: criteria relevant to the port users, to the terminal operators/investors and to the community. The MCA model gives the best score to Ngqura with Durban taking second place.