Seaport Dimensional Analysis towards Economic Growth in Archipelagic Regions

Abstract

The performance of a seaport is determined by the coherence between the optimal dimensions of the seaport and the economic potential of the area where the seaport is located. Otherwise, the economic potential of the region can drive how big the port should be developed. To study the behavior of seaport parameters on regional archipelagic economic zones, dynamics models are used, where the econometric model is applied to the completion of the Cobb-Douglas production equation. The results obtained by this analysis showed that the increased volume of loading/unloading cargo is correlated to local economic growth; and, the increase of loading/unloading of cargo can promote the growth of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Increased volume of loading-unloading cargo is correlated to the growth of vessel hold capacity/deadweight tonnage (DWT). GDP growth is correlated to the demand load capacity of the vessel (DWT); and the increase of GDP requires definition of a length of berth (Lb). Hence, it is concluded that there is a strong influence between the development of port dimensions and the economic growth of archipelagic regions.

Keywords

• Archipelagic Region, Development, Dynamics models, Economy, Seaports