The port of Busan, the largest transshipment hub port in Northeast Asia, has witnessed slow increase of transshipment cargo caused by the slowdown of Chinese economic growth and global economic downturn led by European financial crisis. China and Japan, taking 46% of Busan Port's transshipment cargo, have moved ahead with policies to reduce their local cargo, transshipped at Busan Port by attracting direct callings from carriers.
In order to bring suggestions to reinforce the competitiveness of Busan Port as the transshipment hub port in Northeast Asia, this study has analysed operational status of global transshipment ports and current status of global maritime and shipping industries home and abroad followed by theoretic background of transshipment cargo and precedent research.
In this study, a survey was conducted on carriers and tenant companies at distripark at Busan New Port to figure out what measures should be taken to strengthen the Busan Port's competitiveness in terms of transshipment cost, management of port facilities, and vitalizations of Distripark at Busan New Port, based on the SWOT analysis of Busan Port,
In terms of transshipment cost, this study suggests gradual movement of container cargo handling functions to Busan New Port from Busan North Port by rearrangement of Busan North Port function.
Integration of terminal operators and securing feeder berths at Busan New Port in terms of port facilities management and developing high value added business model and expanding Busan Port's business area by establishing overseas logistics foothold in terms of vitalizations of Busan New Port distripark are suggested at this study respectively.
At last, considering transshipment cost is the most influential factor of improving transshipment competitiveness, separately-operating two port : New Port and North Port, should be integrated and the lack of feeder berths at Busan New Port should be solved. When it comes to the expansion of Busan Port's business area by securing overseas logistics foothold, more studies and follow-up research are required.