Analysis of vulnerabilities in maritime supply chains. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Honglu; Tian, Zhihong; Huang, Anqiang; Yang, Zaili
• Is Part Of: Reliability engineering & system safety. Volume 169(2018)
• Page Start: 475
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Vulnerability -- Maritime transport -- Complex network -- Network topology -- Network robustness -- Resilience -- Maritime risk; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; System safety -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Sécurité des systèmes -- Périodiques; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; 620.00452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2017.09.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-8320

Abstract

Highlights: Review the definitions of vulnerability within the context of maritime transport. Develop a framework for vulnerability analysis in maritime transport networks. Identify the vulnerabilities in maritime transport network. Demonstrate advantages of the new risk model through a real case analysis. Abstract: This paper aims to analyze the different concepts of "vulnerability" used in maritime supply chains, and to develop a novel framework with supporting models to identify and analyze the relevant vulnerabilities in the chains. A real case of the Maersk shipping line in its Asia-Europe route is studied to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework. We find that the investigated network has stronger robustness against random failures than that when facing deliberate attacks. Furthermore, to identify vulnerable nodes (i.e. ports) of the network, two different types of analysis are undertaken through a multi-centrality model and a robustness analysis model, respectively. Consequently, the vulnerabilities estimated through robustness analysis can ascertain those by the classical centrality methods when they appear on both analysis results. More importantly, the similarity between the two outcomes can help gain more confidence on the accuracy in terms of the identification of the vulnerabilities in the system, while the difference (if any) such as those identified by the robustness analysis but not by the centrality analysis (or vice versa) can trigger a further investigation to find the comprehensive vulnerable nodes against different threats/hazards. It will aid rational decision on design and operation of resilient and robust maritime supply chains.