Change of Inland Seaborne Cargo Flow and Cut of Social Cost (through Practical Use of Local Port)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to consider the change of inland seaborne cargo flow through practical use of local port and then explain a cut of social cost. At first the author showed a state of seaborne cargo in Japan. Secondly the author showed a Huff Model for coefficient of port utilization. This model has the explanatory variables of the number of berths, frequency of call of ports and distances from shippers to ports. According to the model, the author proposed a practical use of local port effective to cut of social cost. The results are as follows ; (1) Seaborne cargo is about 12% of inland cargo in Japan. (2) Huff Model is effective to represent coefficient of port utilization. (3) If shippers make the best use of local port, we will be able to reduce the distance of truck transportation from shippers to port and we will cut the transportation and social cost.