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Passenger travel mode choice between short sea shipping and road transportation: a case from Zhoushan Archipelago (China)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2025

Qin Lin ,
Tingliu Xu ,
Manel Grifoll  and
Hongxiang Feng Open the ORCID record for Hongxiang Feng [Opens in a new window]
Qin Lin
Affiliation:
College of International Economics & Trade, Ningbo University of Finance & Economics, Ningbo, China
Tingliu Xu
Affiliation:
Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
Manel Grifoll
Affiliation:
Barcelona Innovation in Transport (BIT), Barcelona School of Nautical Studies, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
Hongxiang Feng*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
*
Corresponding author: Hongxiang Feng; Email: fenghongxiang@nbu.edu.cn
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Abstract

The optimisation of inter-island transportation systems constitutes a critical determinant of regional economic development and the efficacy of mobility infrastructure. This study presents a comparative analysis of passenger mode selection between short-sea shipping (SSS) and road transport alternatives through stated preference surveys conducted via anonymised questionnaires. Employing advanced discrete choice modelling techniques – specifically the multinomial logit (MNL), random parameter logit (RPL) and latent class (LC) frameworks – we quantitatively disentangle the complex determinants influencing modal preferences. Our systematic sensitivity analysis reveals distinct behavioural patterns: passengers opting for SSS prioritise journey convenience, whereas road transport users exhibit stronger cost sensitivity. These findings provide actionable insights for formulating evidence-based policies to enhance intermodal transportation networks in the Zhoushan Archipelago of China. Beyond its immediate geographical focus, this research contributes methodological innovations by applying finite mixture models to capture unobserved heterogeneity in maritime transport decisions. The framework demonstrates significant transferability potential for island territories globally and urban freight corridor optimisation challenges, particularly in contexts requiring trade-off analyses between maritime efficiency and terrestrial logistics constraints.

Keywords

finite mixture model (FMM)random parameter multinomial logit model (RPMLM)short sea shipping (SSS)standard multinomial logit model (SMLM)travel mode choice
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , First View , pp. 1 - 19
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Royal Institute of Navigation

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