Growth of container seaborne traffic in the Mediterranean basin: Outlook and policy implications for port development

New trends in container shipping activities operating in the Mediterranean region represent an interesting process now underway, which induces socio-economic development of the region as a whole. This work examines the causes of the containerization process within the Mediterranean basin and pays particular attention to the recent evolution of ports. It identifies two specific categories of ports now in operation in the basin for container traffic. Moreover, it analyses the reason for the recent upsurge in development and growth of transhipment ports. In this context, an understanding of the policy, economy, and technological frameworks and approaches that have been, and continue to be, the backbone for ongoing development of modern Mediterranean shipping activity allows one to outline strategies for future development of the basin.