Port intermodal transportation : Port of Stockholm hinterland scenario analysis

Abstract: Population growth, urbanization, globalization of human migration, consumerism; technical and information technology development - are just a few trends of the modern society that set challenges to transport geography. To meet growing market demands new technologies and services were developed. With the introduction of ISO containers shipping performance got a tremendous boost for development. Container standardization made it possible to unify transportation and transshipment technologies, to rationalize ship space utilization and develop sustainable logistic chains between countries and continents. Intermodal transportation is proven to be profitable and sustainable on the long distances, while on short distances road transportation is still more attractive and is continued to be used for high varieties of purposes. This master thesis is an attempt to show that intermodal transport may be successfully used for some special cases of short-distance transportation. One of these special cases is intermodal transportation from ports located in urban areas. The aim of this project was to analyze feasibility of the intermodal short distance transportation in regards to the port of Stockholm. For this purpose, the current logistic system of the port of Stockholm was analyzed and an intermodal system that can be used for the future port operation was evaluated. The goal of the case study conducted in the thesis was to understand how efficiency and environmental factors of port logistics network may be improved. To achieve these goals an extensive analysis was performed concerning current demand and flow distributions, available and proposed infrastructure in the region.