The Dry Port Concept - Connecting Seaports with their Hinterland by Rail

The dry port concept is based on a seaport directly connected with inland intermodal terminals where goods in intermodal loading units can be turned in as if directly to the seaport. Between the seaport and the inland terminals, here denoted dry ports, relatively large goods ’ flows are being con-centrated, giving room for other traffic modes than road. The hypothesis behind the article is that a consciously applied dry port concept can shift freight volumes from road to more energy efficient traffic modes that are less harmful to the environment, relieve seaport cities from some congestion, make goods handling more efficient and facilitate improved logistics solutions for shippers in the port’s hinterland. The main purpose of the article is to present the theory behind the dry port con-cept and to define three dry port categories; distant, mid-range and close. For each category the benefits are defined from the perspectives of involved actors such as seaports, rail and road opera-tors, shipping lines, shippers, local authorities and the society as a whole. In addition, existing ap-plications of the dry port concept are presented regardless of whether these are officially denoted dry ports. The article takes a logistic, technological, economic as well as environmental perspective, and is focused on how the new transport networks could be designed and also what can be learned from this by authorities and companies that plan to use or operate similar transport systems. 1