Impact of the new Maritime Silk Road on the resilience of major container ports

With the new Maritime Silk Road (MSR) re-configuring supply networks and logistics connectivity, it is essential to demonstrate the improved maritime connectivity under the new MSR via empirical research. This study evaluates the resilience of 54 main representative container ports from 2013 to 2023 by constructing an impact indicator system based on four key dimensions: robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity. we comprehensively adopt the integrated methods that of complex network, entropy weighting technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution, standard deviational ellipse, factor and interaction detection, offering a multidimensional perspective on resilience of ports. Our results show that the overall resilience is significantly improved with the spatial pattern shifting from a northwest-southeast direction towards a northeast-southwest direction, reflecting the positive impact of the new MSR on the sustainability of major container ports. The findings provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and port operators, including investing in alternative trade routes, taking action on green initiatives and digital technologies to reduce risks and ensure stability. This study explores the complex interactions between resilience dimensions and factors, and improves the understanding of port resilience by combining multidimensional analysis with the specific context of the new MSR.