A Correlation Analysis of Vessel Characteristics and Container Throughput for Selected Countries

Olabisi Michael Olapoju

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between vessel characteristics and container throughput between 2018 and 2023. The study utilized data collected from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Statistics (UNCTADStat). Data collected included vessel age, average size of vessel, carrying capacity of vessels, and container throughput for a six-year period from 2018 through 2023. The study utilized Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC) analysis to determine the relationship between the selected vessel characteristics (age, average size, and carrying capacity) and container throughput between 2018 and 2023. Results reveal that vessel age is negatively correlated to container throughput across all years. This indicates that older vessels contribute less to port efficiency and performance of container trade. On the other hand, vessel size and carrying capacity reveal moderate positive correlations with container throughput, although their effects slightly weaken over time. These results emphasize the importance of fleet modernization and port infrastructure improvement in enhancing cargo productivity, especially container throughput. The study suggests investment in modern shipping technologies, such as green fleet renewal, and enhanced port capacity, as requisite for optimizing container handling performance and achieving regional and global competitiveness in the maritime shipping network.

Keywords: container throughput, vessel characteristics, port performance, fleet modernization, maritime efficiency.

DOI – https://doi.org/10.67247/jmr.2025.000009

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