Sea-Air Intermodal Port Pair Selection Criteria in South America

Intermodal operations have been crucial to the success of recent TRANSCOM distribution actions across the globe. Understanding the most appropriate factors to consider in seaport and airfield transloading pairs is critical to efficient and effective use of the intermodal option. TRANSCOM utilizes an analytic heuristic process within an intermodal seaport and airfield suitability model to rank order capability ratings of transloading sites. This research identifies the most important criteria for evaluating intermodal transloading pairs by a thorough review of scholarly literature, multiple runs of the TRANSCOM suitability model, and comparative assessment of various trial results. This analysis was then used to identify the most capable seaport and airfield pairs in South America for military or humanitarian assistance/disaster relief actions supported by intermodal distribution operations. While effective in its current form, the TRANSCOM suitability model may be more informative for planning by incorporating criteria for port pair reliability. The paper proposes that appropriately evaluating accessibility, capability, timeliness, security, and reliability as service characteristics for transport offers the best criteria for evaluating theater intermodal transloading locations. The research also considers factors outside the TRANSCOM model to incorporate the Failed States Index's measure of national stability as a proxy for reliability.