Evaluation System and Its Application for Undeveloped Port-Shoreline Resources

A novel evaluation system and its application method is put forward in order to provide a useful tool to determine what kind of cargo an undeveloped port-shoreline is suited for. First, this paper presents a comprehensive evaluation system consisting of the two subsystems: evaluation subsystem of natural and technical attributes and evaluation subsystem of social and economic attributes, and proposes a model of contribution rate of cargoes to find out what kinds of cargoes is the next step the port needs to develop. Later the quantitative classification of China’ s coastal berths in accordance with natural and technical attributes can be obtained via K-means clustering methodology. The results of clustering could be employed in the evaluation application of China’ s undeveloped port-shoreline resources. Finally, Lianyungang Port is selected as a case study of the application to address the issue on what kinds of cargoes different stretches of an undeveloped port-shoreline are suited for. The research can provide the decision-making support for port management and planning.