Introduction

The global maritime network underpinning the world economy is currently facing critical challenges. These include, inter alia, relatively stagnant economic and trade activity, China’s growing impact on international trade, changes in the structural pattern of international trade as a consequence of emerging free trade agreements, the need to further integrate maritime logistics systems, fierce port competition and the influence of mega carriers, terrorist attacks and other security issues, natural disasters and the need for enhanced resilience, as well as global warming and other environmental concerns. Within the context of a globalized world economy, the continued emergence of new developments which fundamentally affect it (such as China’s growing engagement in Africa and South America) and aspects such as the pursuit of an integrated logistics environment, the competitiveness of alternative production bases, the potential for the relocation of production lines, and the associated establishment of new supply chains have all attracted the attention of manufacturers, maritime logistics providers, academics, and policymakers. This is the context which has prompted the production of this book entitled Dynamic Shipping and Port Development in the Globalized Economy.