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The Performance of Seaport Clusters - RePub - Erasmus Universiteit ...

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Chapter 14 – Conclusions on <strong>Seaport</strong> <strong>Clusters</strong> 203<br />

overall evaluation is 1.2 on a scale from –5 to +5, in Durban and the LMPC the average is –<br />

0.2 and –0.1 respectively. This assessment shows that the organizational infrastructure in<br />

the three ports is not effective. A merger <strong>of</strong> various associations into one cluster association,<br />

as was done in Rotterdam, is probably a step forward.<br />

14.4 Leader firm behavior in seaports<br />

<strong>The</strong> three case studies show that leader firms can contribute substantially to the<br />

performance <strong>of</strong> port clusters. <strong>The</strong> experts regard leader firms as relatively important.<br />

Examples <strong>of</strong> leader firm behavior in port clusters include:<br />

• Efforts and investments to improve rail accessibility, by setting up a freight rail<br />

company.<br />

• Efforts and investments to improve the quality <strong>of</strong> the labor force in the cluster.<br />

• Efforts and investments to improve the ‘data interchange infrastructure’ in a port.<br />

• Efforts to improve the organizational infrastructure in a port and the cooperation<br />

between firms and the port authority.<br />

• Efforts to increase the working standards <strong>of</strong> suppliers in the port.<br />

• Efforts to encourage the introduction <strong>of</strong> internal competition in a cluster.<br />

In every port cluster the involvement <strong>of</strong> leader firms will be different. <strong>The</strong>se examples show<br />

the huge potential benefits <strong>of</strong> leader firm involvement.<br />

14.5 Collective action regimes in seaports<br />

Collective action regimes are very relevant in port clusters. <strong>The</strong> hinterland access regime is<br />

especially important for the performance <strong>of</strong> a port cluster. Innovation, training and education,<br />

internationalization and marketing and promotion are also regarded as important regimes in<br />

all three ports. Central in improving regimes is the ability to commit resources, such as<br />

capital, management involvement, and commitment, to a regime.<br />

<strong>The</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> collective action regimes varies between the cases but is generally speaking<br />

moderate. Given the importance <strong>of</strong> the regimes, this is an important opportunity to improve

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