Factors influencing container transport: A fuzzy number-based distributionmodel approach

In recent years, the world economy has become more integrated international ly and container transportation has become increasingly more important as t he proportion of all trade using containers is continuously growing. In ord er to adapt to the increasing containerization trend, it is essential to pl an and construct adequate ports and facilities to cope with this developmen t. Based on the analysis of factors influencing container movements, this pape r illustrates the logical relationships for a distribution model, which has been used to predict the distribution of containers among the three main S eaports near Shenzhen and Hong Kong. A fuzzy number-based distribution mode l is outlined in the paper. The paper illustrates the main influencing fact ors and their logical relationships and proposes a primary distribution mod el where the attractiveness of each port has been calibrated. The results s how that the Port of Hong Kong is significantly more attractive than the ot her two ports modelled and is likely to continue to be so in the future.