Port rationalization and the evolution of regional port systems: the case of Norway

This paper explores container port system evolution and port choice from the perspective of a regional or secondary (feeder and short sea) system. Theory predicts that large-scale container port systems tend towards concentration, rationalizing the number of ports, followed by deconcentration. By contrast, regional port systems remain under-researched. Such systems tend to retain their large number of small ports, as the alternative would be serving their long coastlines, small islands and sparse populations by long overland routes or not at all. Norway is a classic feeder and short sea market with a long coastline and dispersed population served by many small ports. The methodology utilizes concentration analysis and semi-structured interviews to explore if the Norwegian system conforms to theories of port concentration and port choice, including issues of regional port governance. Findings show that the Norwegian system demonstrates the same process of concentration and then deconcentration as major port ranges. However, its number of ports has not been rationalized, suggesting that such regional systems may indeed evolve differently to major port ranges. Nevertheless, ongoing discussion of reform in Norway towards regional port governance, similar to other European countries, may eventually result in such rationalization.