Port spatial development and theory of constraints

Ports in different regions look for further developments to improve their ports to compete with others and deal with the demand of sea transport. A common way to deal with the increasing demand of sea transport and competing with adjacent ports is to expand the port. Due to the lack of structural guidance on this concentration-deconcentration issue, this paper aims at proposing a decision framework to determine whether a port development should be at the original site or a new site. In particular, a port spatial development model is developed based on Bird’s Anyport Model and the Theory of Constraints (TOC). A framework of decision making is further formulated by considering major constraints (geographical, economic, and supporting constraints). In a systematic manner, the framework includes four steps for making decisions of port spatial development: port planning, site consideration, analysis, and decision making. Using Taiwan’s Keelung and Taipei ports as case studies, the paper investigates the conditions in deciding whether port development would spatially concentrate or de-concentrate. The case studies suggest that the framework developed in this paper provides guidance for port spatial development decisions. The decision framework is readily expanded and modified to include other important constraints on port development.