Resilience Analysis of Seaport–Dry-Port Network in Container Transport: Multi-Stage Load Redistribution Dynamics Following Cascade Failure

Container shipping networks are vulnerable to cascading failures due to seaport disruptions, underscoring the need for resilient multimodal transport systems. This study proposes a cascading failure model for the seaport–dry-port network in container transport, incorporating a multi-stage load redistribution strategy (CM-SDNCT-MLRS) to enhance network resilience. Extending the Motter–Lai framework, the model introduces multiple port state transitions and accounts for uncertainties in load redistribution, tailoring it to the cascading failure dynamics of SDNCT. Using empirical data from China’s coastal port system, the proposed MLRS dynamically reallocates loads through dry-port buffering, neighboring seaport sharing, and port skipping. This strategy effectively contains cascading failures, mitigates network efficiency losses, and protects major seaports while reducing mutual disruptions. Resilience analysis demonstrates that the network exhibits scale-free properties, with its resilience being highly sensitive to random port failures and critical port vulnerabilities. The experimental results highlight the pivotal role of dry ports, where operational numbers influence resilience more significantly than capacity. In addition, the study identifies the optimal port-skipping probability that mitigates cascading disruptions. These findings provide valuable insights for port management and logistics planning, contributing to the development of more resilient container transport networks.