Port competition, connectivity and accessibility changes under the disturbance: the case of the Chinese port system

To investigate the challenge of disturbances such as COVID-19, we proposed a method to explore the competition, connectivity and accessibility changes in port systems under the disturbance. And then, this method is applied to Chinese port systems in the context of COVID-19. Results indicate: First, lower-intensity competition mainly occurred in the pre-COVID-19 period while high-intensity competition mainly took place in the post-COVID-19 period. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic weakened the connectivity and accessibility of the port. Finally, from the perspective of the Chinese port systems, before COVID-19, Ningbo Port faced the most competition, which came from Shanghai Port. However, after COVID-19, Guangzhou Port had the fiercest competition that happened with Xiamen Port and Qingdao Port. In terms of connectivity and accessibility, the ranking of the Chinese port system is as follows: YRDP, PRDP and BRP. Meanwhile, Shanghai Port has the highest connectivity and accessibility, followed by Ningbo Port and Shenzhen Port.