The Kiel Canal in Germany connects ports on the Baltic Sea with the rest of the world and is the most-used artificial waterway in the world. Despite this fact, it generates a balance sheet loss. Revenues, which are mainly generated by the transit charge, do not cover its operating expenses. This...

The maritime transport sector (henceforth shipping sector) can be seen as the backbone of globalization since it transports 80% of the merchandise traded internationally (UNCTAD, 2008). It transported about 8.4 billion tons of merchandise throughout the world in 2010 (UNCTAD, 2011). Needless to...