Mapping the multiplex structure of global liner shipping: Connectivity profiles and competitive positioning of carriers

The global liner shipping system, a critical backbone of international trade, is shaped by decentralized service planning, with each carrier designing its own route network based on strategic and commercial priorities. However, increasing collaboration across routes has intensified competition and reduced service differentiation, highlighting the need to understand how distinct routing strategies influence network structures and emergent system performance. In this study, we examine the Multiplex Global Liner Shipping Network (mGLSN) by integrating detailed service route data from the world's top 20 carriers, modeling each carrier as an independent layer. We introduce a novel role-to-role connectivity profile identification method to uncover the structural patterns of individual Carrier Shipping Networks (CSNs). Our analysis shows that while most carriers adopt hub-and-spoke configurations, their aggregation results in a Global Liner Shipping Network (GLSN) characterized by a mixed “core-of-hubs” and “clustered-periphery” topology. By clustering carriers based on their connectivity profiles, we identify distinct strategic groups that align with market positioning and performance outcomes: first-tier carriers dominate the global backbone, second-tier carriers enhance inter-regional connectivity, and smaller carriers operate as localized feeders. These differentiated network profiles underscore the strategic value of tailored network designs. By leveraging multiplex network modeling and role-based connectivity analysis, we provide new insights into how carrier-level strategies collectively shape the structure of the GLSN. Our findings offer managerial implications for service differentiation and competitive positioning within the global liner shipping industry, and contribute empirical evidence of self-organizing principles in real-world complex systems, illuminating the multifaceted nature of global network formation.