Improving port of Sines competitiveness. A subjective benchmarking approach

Sines was known to be an oil terminal, but today the port comprises five terminals serving different trades. These results: 1) from an ambitious development plan; 2) from the strong efforts to integrate the port in the trans-European transport networks. Sines container terminal is seen as an added value to the port and through its operation existing short sea shipping (SSS) trades are expected to expand and business opportunities and challenges are expected to emerge in both deep sea and SSS trades. This paper assesses Sines competitiveness in the SSS market relatively to other European ports. A benchmarking technique was used based on information gathered from an e-mail perception survey sent to European port authorities. The outcome shows Sines competitiveness, despite four criteria ranked below relatively to the average. To sustain and improve its competitiveness, this paper presents a sub-criteria list that Sines needs to address in the medium- and long-terms.