A PORT CHOICE MODEL OF THE CARRIER, THE SHIPPER AND THE CONSIGNEE: AN APPLICATION TO CONTAINER TRANSPORT BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC, AND SELECTED QUEBEC, EAST COAST AND GREAT LAKES PORTS IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

This thesis is concerned with the development and practical application of a theory which makes it possible to analyze the economics of any system of ocean ports and in particular the port choice process. The theory is specifically applied to the St. Lawrence River, the northeast coast of Canada and the United States and the Great Lakes area. The basic approach consists of the development and use of an economic model which simulates the port choice process of the maritime carrier, the shipper and the consignee, all of whom play a major role in port development, as do the governments involved. A port choice model based on the optimum allocation of resources is also developed