The passage of goods through a port is probably the most basic service that this type of facility offers to the end customer in the logistics chain. Namely importers and exporters. Paradoxically, the main characteristics of this basic service are the transit time “the transit delay at the port” and the cost.

Naturally, various factors affect the time and cost of the passage, such as the type of navigation (domestic or international), the type of product (dangerous goods), the loading unit (container or others. The fact is that, for a type concrete traffic, there is no well-established offer in terms of time and price defined by the port as a whole.The situation described responds to various causes, among which we find conflicts of interest between the various stakeholders in the port passage.

On the one hand, shippers have specific requirements on the port link in the logistics chain where progress in productivity and cost reduction are constantly sought, on the other hand, shippers' intermediaries have already forced shipowners to revise. their organization and to lower their prices, which will make it possible to say that the cost of port passage is a factor

The choice of a port is based on the study of total logistics costs ... The shipper therefore looks for the port that offers a set of sea routes, but also good connections with other modes of transport.

predominant in the logistics chain and in the commercial relationship between shippers, shipowners and port authority.

The price, that is to say the costs of stopover and handling, is one of the first criteria for selecting a port because it has a direct impact on the price paid by the shipper.

Likewise, the price cannot be dissociated from certain elements of the quality of the port service in terms of speed of transit and the rate of handling.

In general, the choice of a port is based on the study of total logistics costs. It includes the costs of land and sea transport, the costs of port passage, the costs of immobilization of the goods during transport and disruptions of load and storage.

The shipper is therefore looking for the port which offers him a set of maritime services, but also good connections with other modes of transport.