Europe’s Southeastern Gateway: Romania’s Public Policy Respose to Changing Patterns of World Shipping

Abstract

This article is a follow-up to one published in December of 2012 (Hamlin and Lazar, 2012). Global trade and related transportation are changing dramatically. Trends are difficult to fol- low, but important in the effect on cities, countries and continents. Over the past two decades, rising energy prices, rising wages, environmental concerns and other factors have produced a shift back to ocean shipping as an important transportation mode. While slower than other modes, ocean freighter transport can be lower in cost and create lower carbon emissions. These advantages continue to improve as container freighters are becoming larger. The purpose of the article is to look more closely at the public and private sector response in the key Romania port of Constanţa. The first part will lay out the current situation. The second will update and evaluate the Eastern European responses to the current situation, looking closely at the Port of Constanţa.

Keywords: containers, port of Constanţa, shipping industry, transportation modes, canals and sea routes

JEL Classification: R