Intra- vs. extra-regional connectivity of the Black Sea port system

Résumé En

The Black Sea port system is generally considered as a secondary port system in the European port scene. Though located next to the East Med ports, it is slightly remote from the main shipping route, due to the existence of Bosporus Strait connecting the two seas. The region’s economic position will be affected by a range of developments such as (i) nearshoring, (ii) the shift of EDC development from West to the central and Eastern Europe, (iii) SECA regulations in the North and Baltic Seas, (iv) growth of East Med ports, (v) the Silk road project revitalization, (vi) Suez Canal expansion, etc.. These developments can affect the configuration of shipping patterns to/from Europe and thus alter the position of Black Sea ports in the global shipping network.This chapter addresses shipping dynamics in the secondary port region of the Black Sea. The chapter uses notions of (i) centrality and intermediacy, (ii) system development; network analysis; and (iv) evolutionary change to critically assess the changing position of the Black Sea container port system. We analyse the current state and historical evolution of container services in Black Sea followed. We also develop a cost and transit time model for Far East-Black Sea liner services in view of comparing container liner services with a direct call to the Black Sea and services using a transhipment hub to serve the region with a specific focus on Ukrainian ports. We conclude with a future outlook of shipping lines serving the Black Sea followed by a roadmap in order to improve the attractiveness and hence the connectivity and intermediacy/centrality of the Black Sea/Ukrainian ports.