Exploratory Study on the Key Characteristics of Secondary Ports Categorisation: An Analysis from the Perspectives of Malaysian Experts

Secondary ports in Malaysia are categorized in an ambiguous state and noted inconsistently throughout the existing literature because there is no clear and conclusive definition that can accurately explain their backgrounds based on specific characteristics. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the secondary port operational characteristics to address the current ambiguity and inconsistency of information observed in the literature. This study adopted a systematic qualitative approach to conduct a cross-case analysis and to obtain the necessary information from the field experts and established literature. The results obtained indicate that there are seven key characteristics emphasized to differentiate the background of secondary ports and assist in the port categorizing process. Such results could assist decision-makers and policy-makers to provide better a perspective on the background of maritime ports in Malaysia and highlight the differences of port categories in a systematic way. This study is valuable in that it identifies a set of key characteristics that reconcile local perspectives with the global context related to port categorization initiatives, thereby contributing to a more streamlined and coherent approach to this important issue.