Liner shipping alliance management: Overview and future research directions

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 219; p. 106039
• Main Authors: Chen, Jihong, Ye, Jun, Zhuang, Chenglin, Qin, Quande, Shu, Yaqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-03-2022
• Subjects: Cooperation; Liner shipping; Literature review; Strategic alliance; Synergy; Literature review; Liner shipping; Strategic alliance; Synergy; Cooperation
• ISSN: 0964-5691; 1873-524X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106039

Liner shipping plays an important role in international shipping. This article systematically reviews studies regarding liner shipping alliance management from three decision-making levels: strategic decision, tactical operations and management policy. These studies are addressed and summarized throughout the management process, including making an alliance, partner selection, cooperation mechanism design, synergy planning and performance appraisal. In order to make a scientifical classification, this paper further elaborates comprehensively on journals, research topics and modelling approaches of the studies and the relationships among them. At last, in terms of the gap between the practices of liner container shipping industry and existing academic studies, diversification and flexibility of cooperation modes, intelligent operations, multi-objective optimization, environmental protection and a sound supervision mechanism in liner shipping alliance management are expected to be covered in future research. The main purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of the management concept and technology of liner shipping alliance, and encourage more research and application.
●Liner shipping alliance management from three decision-making levels is investigated.●Problems to form a liner shipping alliance such as partner selection and cooperation design are discussed.●Journals, research topics and modelling approaches of the studies are reviewed.