A Port Importance Evaluation Method Based on the Projection Pursuit Model in Shipping Networks

Shipping networks face natural or man-made port emergencies, and the failure of a port affects the network's connectivity and efficiency. It is very necessary to give priority to the selection of ports that should be maintained or ensure service capacity in case of port failure. The importance evaluation of ports is of great significance to improve the efficiency of maritime transport. In view of this, this paper proposed a port importance evaluation method in shipping networks integrating the centrality index and vulnerability index. The indexes are, respectively, degree centrality, weighted degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, change rate of network efficiency, and connectivity. The weight of each index is calculated by the projection pursuit model. The results show that the proposed method integrates the different performances of each index. The importance of Singapore port, Colombo port, and Port Klang rank as the top three. They are the hub ports of the main lines of Asia, Europe, and Africa and occupy extremely important core positions in the network. Finally, the ports are classified based on importance value, and the shipping network after the failure of some ports is compared. This research can provide a scientific basis for ensuring the efficiency, connectivity, and stability of shipping networks.