Professional paper
Container Traffic in the Adriatic with Special Attention to the North Adriatic Ports
Abstract
Container traffic has a dominant role in the transport of general cargo, because it integrates different ways of
transport into a unique transport chain. The reason is that it is easier to handle cargo and the turn – around time
is reduced, thus decreasing the costs of transhipment and reducing freight rates, attracting more users. Due to all
these factors, container transport is considered to be the most perspective way of transporting of cargo.
STRUČNI ČLANAK / PROFESSIONAL PAPER
BRODARSTVO
“Naše more” 56(1-2)/2009. 17
ISSN 0469-6255 (16-25)
The Mediterranean Sea is of extreme importance for container transport, because it is one of three most important
routes on relation East-West i.e. that one connecting Europe with Near East, Middle East, Far East. Taking into
consideration the fact that in liner marine service there’s a trend of rationalization of the number of ports of call
because of the reduction of costs, the Mediterranean ports in the vicinity of main fairway between Suez Channel
and Gibraltar took the function of main transhipment container ports. The distribution of containers from those ports
towards distant ports of the Mediterranean basin is done by regular feeder lines Container traffic in the Adriatic
appeared in the end of 1970. and it is of the greatest intensity in the North Adriatic ports, because they have the
best traffic connections with gravitational hinterland, i.e. the States of Central Europe. However, although having
exceptionally convenient geographical position in comparison to traffic routes between Europe and East, North
Adriatic ports don’t take advantage of that position. It is proved by the fact that main competitors are the ports of
North and Baltic Sea across which the majority of foreign trade of the eastern states of Central Europe is carried out,
although being in the close vicinity to the Adriatic.
Keywords
marine traffic; container port; feeder service; the Mediterranean; the North Adriatic ports
Hrčak ID:
38614
URI
Publication date:
13.6.2009.
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