Brazilian maritime containerized cabotage competitiveness assessment based on a multimodal super network

This study evaluates the competitiveness of Brazilian maritime container cabotage within a multimodal transportation super network, employing an adapted All Pairs Shortest Path (APSP) algorithm to solve the All Pairs Minimum Cost Path problem. The research analyzes cost structures, environmental impacts, and operational efficiencies across 637 cities, 18 container terminals, 8 barge terminals, and 301 maritime routes. Key metrics, including freight rates, in-transit inventory costs, and CO 2 equivalent emissions, are incorporated into the network's impedance values, enabling a comprehensive comparison between maritime cabotage and road transportations modes. Results indicate that maritime cabotage holds a significant cost advantage over road transportation mode for long-haul routes, particularly when distances exceed 1.800 km. Additionally, maritime cabotage offers substantial environmental benefits, with CO 2 equivalent emission reductions of up to 41,3 %, depending on the route and cabotage shipping company.