The punctuality of containerships has become the prevalent issue in container liner shipping operations, as the on-time arrival of a containership at the next port of call is paramount. When a delay occurs at the previous port of call, it may also cause a delay at the next port of call. This paper proposes a departure punctuality model of analysis. This model employs a Fuzzy Rule-Based Bayesian Belief Network (FRBBN) for predicting the departure punctuality of a containership. To ensure the reliability of the model, two containerships were tested. The results show that the prediction values from the model are between 95.6% and 99% accurate provided that no tactical strategy is implemented during the voyage. In addition, the most significant factors that determine the punctuality of departure were found to be punctuality of arrival at the same (base) port prior to departure, dangerous events and other unexpected delays during the port stay. It is expected that this model is capable of helping researchers and practitioners to understand the influence of the dynamic environment and to make predictions on the departure punctuality of containerships.

The significant exodus of containers inland due to the container revolution has increased the salience of inland terminals for efficient freight distribution. Further, the migration of containers gradually inland has forced seaports to depend on these inland terminals to determine their competitiveness and offer a mechanism for competitive freight price to the consumer. The performance of dry ports need to be improved along with the dynamic nature of maritime business, to efficiently fulfil the demand all the key players in the container seaport system, provide economies of scale and scope to their respective clients and enhances the importance of inland networks to improve and consistently elongate the competitiveness of container seaports. Predicated to these importance, this paper aims to enhance dry port performance by adapting a process benchmarking strategy among the Malaysian dry ports. Prior to the adaptation of the process benchmarking approach, a grounded theory had been conducted as a method of analysis among the key players of the Malaysian container seaport system in order to provide essential inputs for the benchmarking. Through this paper, the outcome shows all four Malaysian dry ports need to improve their transportation infrastructure and operation facilities, container planning strategy, competition, location and externalities in order to assist all the key players in the container seaport system efficiently and effectively.

The opening of the Northern Sea Route as an alternative route for transporting cargoes between the Far East and Europe seems highly acceptable by shipping companies due to the great saving in fuel consumption, bunker cost, operating cost, emissions and journey time. This situation will not only affect the maritime business activity in the Straits of Malacca but also, the Malaysian economy in different perspectives when the vessels sail via the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean are expected to decrease. The objective of this study is to analyse the implication in the opening of the Northern Sea Route on Maritime Sector of the Malaysian economy by using PESTEL analysis. The main scope is focusing more on the Malacca Straits shipping activity by using a number of parameters that have been obtained from Port Klang and Port Klang Authority through a set of questionnaires and interview sessions with industrial experts.