Container traffic flow through Gioia Tauro port in the international and italian context

A general description of container traffic relationships, that involve the European area, constitutes a fundamental element for the evaluation of actual and potential traffic flows through Gioia Tauro hub port. According to many researchers, container traffic volumes via sea concerning the European continent have increased from 11.3 to 15.8 million of TEUs (around 40%) during the period 1991-‘96. European traffic travels through two separate port systems: the first one corresponds to the coastal range from Le Havre to Hamburg, known as ‘Northern Range’; while the second, denominated ‘Southern Range’, includes all Mediterranean ports from Algeciras to Pireus. This paper firstly illustrates the traffic dynamics of container freights in the European context and secondly presents the container traffic flow through the port of Gioia Tauro. The spatial, temporal and modal split of arriving and departing containers to/from Gioia Tauro are considered. Finally, the development perspectives of traffic volumes are outlined, in relation to the forecasted growth of the European port system. Analyses have been conducted during a two-year research project, whose title is: “Evaluation of the potentialities of the Gioia Tauro intermodal terminal for the development of the Calabrian economy and role of minor Calabrian ports”. The research was supported by Calabrian Region Administration (P.O.P. European Program).