Witters, Roberta L.

Ports in the United States (US) are encouraged to compete in a free market system. Several Shipping Acts since the 1800's have ensured that each port is not given exclusive rights over any other US port. Because shipping lines are free to choose the port they utilize, ports have to continually upgrade their facilities to keep up with continual changes in the industry. The container revolution changed the entire port network system. What makes a port successful before and after the container revolution for thirty selected US ports is examined in this study. Variables that determine a successful port are tested and found to be different before and after the container revolution.

Ports in the United States compete in a relatively free market system. Because shipping lines are free to choose the ports they utilize, port authorities have to continually upgrade their facilities to keep pace with changes in the industry. The container revolution altered the entire shipping network system, and ports have been called upon to respond to the needs of the shipping companies. Thirty U.S. ports in the South Atlantic and Gulf regions arc examined in this study. Variables that determine a successful port in competing for high-volume tonnage are tested and found to have different weights in 1965, the early days of the container revolution, compared to 1999.