This is achieved through a three-pronged approach which considers, as applicable, trade and trade development factors, systems development from a technical and capacity perspective, and all the key issues surrounding the development of the global transhipment business. The result is somewhere between a “dictionary” and “atlas” of transhipment and feedering with the added bonus of a view of the future in relation to the sector's major elements. In the latter respect, the following provide good examples:

Transhipment

There are basically eight major elements discussed in this section of the report and the very last section, “Futuristic Transhipment Models,” raises two interesting ideas on new style transhipment systems. The first comprises very large vessels (say up to 18,000 teu Malaccamax size) operating between nine or so pure, very large transhipment hubs possibly even incorporating a floating transhipment terminal.

It is considered that this option might become viable post 2014 when vessels of around 12,600 teu will be able to use the modernised Panama Canal and concepts such as the Equatorial Round the World Service may be taken up.

The second potential new system centres on segregating transhipment traffic from gateway traffic. As envisioned, it comprises a system whereby transhipment traffic would be carried on vessels exclusively designated for carrying either transhipment or gateway traffic but never both simultaneously. In turn, transhipment traffic, it is envisioned, will be handled at ports exclusively designated for this purpose and not mixed with gateway traffic which would be handled elsewhere.

This latter concept may seem far fetched but interestingly Dynamar makes the point: “A number of operations resembling this concept have been launched in the first half of 2007, including:

a/ Far East - Malta as a single (transhipment) port in the Mediterranean with exclusive feedering to North Africa, and

b/ Far East – Algeciras and Malaga as the two only direct (transhipment) ports in the Mediterranean, feedering to West Med ports (and relay to West Africa).”

Obviously, it is not the full new concept as foreseen but it is moving towards it.

Feedering

Dynamar cites a number of interesting developments in the feedering business including:

New style feedering arrangements:

- Mainline carriers employing separate branding with their dedicated feeders to give them a neutral character.

- Common feeder operators employing one or more of their ships under the name/style of a mainline customer, and

- The development of joint services between common and dedicated feeder operators.

More information on this worthy report can be found on www.dynamar.com.