A novel Network-based Integrated Choice Evaluation (NICE) model is
developed to enhance the multinomial logit preference (MNL) model that is widely
employed in the existing port choice literature. The NICE model integrates the
element of port service network with observational port attributes to identify
important quality characteristics on which liner shipping companies base their port
choices. An empirical study of the proposed model is conducted through the service
schedules of three established liner shipping companies. Results show that port
efficiency and scale economies are the more important dimensions influencing liner
shipping companies’ selection of major Asian ports. Nevertheless, it is important for
a competitive port to balance its efforts among all the dimensions