Ports Competition

Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 2016, 6, 112-122

Published Online February 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojapps

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2016.62012

Assessment of Ports Competiveness in

West and Central African Sub-Regions

Using Priest Analytic Hierarchy Process:

The Defies & Incompetence of the Port of

Douala (Cameroon)

Veronique Nguele Balla1, F. C. Anguibi China2, R. A. N. Fouda3, C. D. Bissemb4

1

Scientific Research Academy, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

3

Researcher of Logistics Management for Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

4

College of Transports & Communication, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

2

Received 31 December 2015; accepted 26 February 2016; published 29 February 2016

Copyright © 2016 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Ports play a fundamental role in a sustainable integration of Africa in International trade. Both

importers and exporters, shipping companies and government, however face high cost for sea

transport and substantial inefficiency in port operations. This has resulted in congestion, higher

dwell time, higher costs which affect the competitive ability in sub regional and global economy.

This study investigates the main factors explaining poor container handling operations and limited competitive ability in Cameroonian Ports and aggregating this to the competitive position of

Cameroonian ports in the West and Central African sub-regions (WCA). Using Analytic Hierarchy

Process (A.H.P), the paper seeks to provide a basic understanding of container transportation and

port’s terminal operations problems (constraints & ineffectiveness) in Cameroon.

Keywords

Port Competitiveness, WCA, Douala Port,...