Theo Notteboom – Short Bio

Theo Notteboom

Theo Notteboom is Professor of maritime and port economics. He is Chair Professor ‘North Sea Port’ at the Maritime Institute, Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University; Professor at Department of Transport and Regional Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp; and Professor at Faculty of Sciences, Antwerp Maritime Academy. He is co-founder and co-director of Porteconomics.eu. He is a member of the Risk and Resilience Committee of International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) where he co-authors the World Ports Tracker. He is Associate Editor of Maritime Economics & Logistics, Editor of Journal of Shipping and Trade and a member of the editorial boards of eight other leading academic journals in the field. Furthermore, he held the MPA visiting professorship in port management at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, and is visiting professor at various universities in Europe and Asia.

He previously held a full-time position as Full Professor and ‘SAFEA High-end Foreign Expert’ at Dalian Maritime University in China and Research Professor/Director of Center for Eurasian Maritime and Inland Logistics (CEMIL) at Shanghai Maritime University. In the period 2006-2014 he was academic head and professor at the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp (ITMMA) of University of Antwerp (transformed into C-MAT in 2015). He was vice-president (2022-2024) and President (2010-2014) of International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME). Between 2009 and 2014 he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belgian Institute of Transport Organizers (BITO), an institute of the Belgian Federal Government.

He published close to 180 papers in first-tier academic journals and another 400 publications in the form of reports and contributions to books, proceedings and specialized press. His work is widely cited (over 24,000 citations in Google scholar and an H-index of 77). In the October 2023 edition of Elsevier’s science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators by John Ioannidis (Stanford University), he ranks no. 20 in the world in the primary research field of “Logistics and Transportation” (best ranked Belgian scholar) and no. 1 in the world in the sub-field of maritime economics. In the 2nd edition of Research.com ranking of the best scholars in the discipline of “Business and Management”, he ranked no. 290 in the world and no. 1 in Belgium.

He is editor/author of twelve academic books. He was a speaker, moderator or panellist at over 400 international academic and business conferences held across the world, many of them hosted by leading organizations. Throughout his career, he received 13 prestigious international awards for his research and achievements in the field. Theo Notteboom acts a rapporteur/expert to leading organizations and corporations in the field and has been involved as promoter or co-promoter in more than 100 academic research programs and (boardroom) consultancy studies on the port and maritime industry and logistics topics commissioned by organizations and numerous private companies and government departments in Europe, Africa and Asia.

E-Mail: theo.notteboom@ugent.be – LinkedIn page – Google scholar page

Latest academic publications (since 2020)

  • YAP, W.Y., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2024, Renewable energy options for seaport cargo terminals with application to mega port Singapore, Maritime Business Review, EarlyCite, https://doi.org/10.1108/MABR-12-2023-0083
  • BAŞTUĞ, S., FIRAT AKGÜL, E., HARALAMBIDES, H., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2024, A Decision-Making Framework for the Funding of Shipping Decarbonization Initiatives in Non-EU Countries: insights from Türkiye, Journal of Shipping and Trade, 9 (12), https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-024-00172-1
  • YUAN, S., JIA, P., NOTTEBOOM, T., MA, Q., 2024, Emerging trends and developments in multimodal freight transportation: a scientometric analysis using CiteSpace, International Journal of Transport Economics, DOI: 10.19272/202306704005, ISSN print 0391-8440, Vol. L (3-4)
  • ZHAO, Y., GE, R., ZHOU, J., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2024, Decarbonization Pathways for Bulk Vessels: Integrating Power Systems, Fuels, and Control Measures, Ocean Engineering, 300 (2024), 117488, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.117488
  • MORCHIO, G., NOTTEBOOM, T., SATTA, G., VOTTERO, B., 2024, Green Finance in Bulk Shipping, Maritime Policy and Management, https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2024.2321854
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., HARALAMBIDES, H., CULLINANE, K., 2024, The Red Sea crisis: ramifications for vessel operations, shipping networks and maritime supply chains, Maritime Economics & Logistics, 26 (1), 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-024-00287-z
  • PALLIS, A., KLADAKI, P., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2024, Port economics, management and policy studies (2009-2020): A bibliometric analysis, WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs (JOMA), 23(2), 217-255, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-023-00325-2
  • KNATZ, G., NOTTEBOOM, T., PALLIS, A., 2024, Container Terminal Automation: Assessment of Drivers and Benefits, Maritime Policy and Management, 51(6), 1252-1276, https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2023.2249460
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., 2024, A market-based perspective on the future of strategic alliances in container shipping, in: KRUITHOF, M., ROGGE, J. (eds.), Over verzekerings- en vervoerrecht te land, ter zee en in de lucht: Liber Amicorum Kris Bernauw, Larcier Intersentia: Brussel, ISBN 978-94-000-1689-7, pp. 349-361
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., 2024, L’intelligence portuaire et les ports intelligents, in: ALIX, Y., CARIOU, P., PAQUIN, J. (eds.), L’intelligence portuaire: opération – innovation – projection, Volume VIII, Collection Les Océanides – Fondation Séfacil, Editions Management & Société (EMS): Caen, pp. 9-12, ISBN : 978-2-37687-966-4, https://www.sefacil.com/literaturesecond/
  • PALLIS, T., NOTTEBOOM, T., RODRIGUE, J.-P., 2024, Regional analysis of Liner Shipping Connectivity: What does the revised LSCI reveal?, Article No. 117, UNCTAD Transport and Trade Facilitation Newsletter N°101 – First Quarter 2024, https://unctad.org/news/regional-analysis-liner-shipping-connectivity-what-does-revised-lsci-reveal
  • CULLINANE, K., HARALAMBIDES, H., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2023, Short-term effects and longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international shipping and port industries, International Journal of Transport Economics, l (1-2), 45-88, https://doi.org/10.19272/202306702002
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., SATTA, G., PERSICO, L., VOTTERO , B., ROSSI, A., 2023, Operational productivity and financial performance of pure transhipment hubs versus gateway terminals: an empirical investigation on Italian container ports, Research in Transportation Business & Management, 47, March 2023, 100967,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2023.100967
  • MUNIM, Z.-H., CHOWDHURY, M.M.H., TUSHER, H.M., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2023, Towards a prioritization of alternative energy sources for sustainable shipping, Marine Policy, 152, June 2023, 105579, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105579
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., HARALAMBIDES, H., 2023, Seaports as green hydrogen hubs: advances, opportunities and challenges in Europe, Maritime Economics and Logistics, 25, 1-27, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-023-00253-1
  • CARIOU, P., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2023, Implications of COVID-19 on the US container port distribution system: import cargo routing by Walmart and Nike, International Journal Of Logistics: Research and Applications, 26(11), 1536-1555, https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2022.2088708
  • LEHMACHER, W., LIND, M., ALLWRIGHT, G., BENTHAM, J., CUMMINS, D., NOTTEBOOM, T., SVENDSEN, J.B., TIKKA, K., DE TREMERIE, L., 2023, Chapter 33: Highlights of the book – a menu of possible actions for decarbonization today and tomorrow, in: Lind, M., Lehmacher, W., Ward R. (eds.), Maritime Decarbonization: Practical Tools, Case Studies and Decarbonization Enablers, Springer, ISBN: 978-3-031-39935-0 (Hardcover), pp. 469–493, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-39936-7_33 ; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39936-7
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., 2023, Chapter 9: Port authority mergers in port systems: The path to “North Sea Port” and “Port of Antwerp-Bruges” in Flanders, in: DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T. (eds.), Port Systems in Global Competition: Spatial-Economic Perspectives on the Co-Development of Seaports, Routledge Studies in Transport Analysis, Routledge, pp. 183-202, https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003316657-13/port-authority-mergers-port-systems-theo-notteboom?context=ubx&refId=46566fba-96f9-41c8-af04-e8825608380f
  • DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T., Slack, B., 2023, Chapter 6: Port migration patterns in the global port system since the 1950s, in: DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T. (eds.), Port Systems in Global Competition: Spatial-Economic Perspectives on the Co-Development of Seaports, Routledge Studies in Transport Analysis, Routledge, pp. 122-146, https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003316657-9/port-migration-patterns-global-port-system-since-1950s-c%C3%A9sar-ducruet-theo-notteboom-brian-slack?context=ubx&refId=5f0ee795-bf6f-4555-967a-35cda9f7d2bb
  • DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2023, Chapter 1: A systematic and critical review of port system research, in: DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T. (eds.), Port Systems in Global Competition: Spatial-Economic Perspectives on the Co-Development of Seaports, Routledge Studies in Transport Analysis, Routledge, pp. 13-54, https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003316657-3/systematic-critical-review-port-system-research-c%C3%A9sar-ducruet-theo-notteboom?context=ubx&refId=4e7750bb-0050-407b-b6f1-052cc06587bb
  • DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T. (eds.), Port Systems in Global Competition: Spatial-Economic Perspectives on the Co-Development of Seaports, Routledge Studies in Transport Analysis, Routledge, DOI: 10.4324/9781003316657, ISBN: 978-1-032-32773-0 (hbk), https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003316657/port-systems-global-competition-c%C3%A9sar-ducruet-theo-notteboom
  • CULLINANE, K., HARALAMBIDES, H., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2023, Weathering the COVID-19 pandemic towards the ‘new normal’: potential longer-term impacts on port and shipping governance, performance and infrastructure geopolitics, in: VROOMANS, J., KUIPERS, B., VAN DUIN, R. (eds.), Keeping the focus on sustainability: a challenge for governance, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, pp. 220-253
  • JEEVAN, J., NOTTEBOOM, T., ROZAR, N., SALLEH, N.H.M., HANAFIAH, R., MENHAT, M.N.S., NGAH, A.H., HANAFIAH, R.M., ZAIDEEN, I.M.M., 2022, Integration of rail freight with dry ports: a route for seaport regionalization, Research in Transportation Business & Management, 45 (part C), December 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2022.100910
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., RODRIGUE, J.-P., 2022, Maritime container terminal infrastructure, network corporatization, and global terminal operators: Implications for international business policy, Journal of International Business Policy, https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-022-00142-z
  • PARIDAENS, H., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2022, Logistics integration strategies in container shipping: a multiple case-study on Maersk Line, MSC and CMA CGM, Research in Transportation Business & Management, 45 (part C), December 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2022.100868
  • KNATZ, G., NOTTEBOOM, T., PALLIS, A., 2022, Container Terminal Automation: Revealing distinctive Terminal Characteristics and Operating Parameters, Maritime Economics & Logistics, 24, 537–565, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-022-00240-y
  • YANG, D., LI, L., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2022, Chinese Investment in Overseas Container Terminals: The Role of Investor Attributes in Achieving a Higher Port Competitiveness, Transport Policy, 118, 112–122, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.01.024
  • TUSHER, H.-M., MUNIM, Z.H., NOTTEBOOM, T., KIM, T.-E., NAZIR, S., 2022, Cyber Security Risk Assessment for Autonomous Shipping, Maritime Economics and Logistics, 24, 208–227, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-022-00214-0
  • LANGENUS, M., DOOMS, M., HAEZENDONCK, E., NOTTEBOOM, T., VERBEKE, A., 2022, Modal shift ambitions of large North European ports: A contract-theory perspective on the role of port managing bodies, Maritime Transport Research (MARTRANS), 3, 100049, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.martra.2021.100049
  • LEE, T.-W., HU, Z., LEE, S., FENG, X., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2022, Strategic locations for logistics distribution centers along the Belt and Road: Explorative analysis and research agenda, Transport Policy, 116, 24-47 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.10.008
  • MUNIM, Z.H., SAHA, R., SCHOYEN, H., NG, A.K.Y., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2022, An evaluation of autonomous ship alternatives for future container shipping in the Arctic routes, Journal of Marine Science and Technology (JMST), 27 (1), 320-334 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-021-00836-8
  • DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2022, Revisiting port system delineation through an analysis of maritime interdependencies among seaports, Geojournal, 87, 1831–1859 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10341-x
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., SATTA, G., PAROLA, F., 2022, Brand strategies of container shipping lines following mergers and acquisitions: carriers’ visual identity options, Maritime Economics & Logistics, 24, 9–40, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-020-00176-1
  • DUCRUET, C., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2022, Chapter 8: Global Maritime Networks in Container Shipping: Liner Service Design, Network Configuration and Port Centrality, in: SONG, D.W., PANAYIDES, P. (eds.), Maritime Logistics: A guide to contemporary shipping and port management, Third Edition, Kogan Page, London, ISBN 978-1-78966-171-2, pp. 148-166 https://www.koganpage.com/product/maritime-logistics-9781789661699#showKeyFeatures
  • NOTTEBOOM T., PALLIS A.A., RODRIGUE J-P., 2021, Disruptions and Resilience in Container Shipping, Ports and Supply chains: The COVID-19 pandemic vs. the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis, Maritime Economics and Logistics, 23(2), 179–210 http://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-020-00180-5.
  • PARIDAENS, H., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2021, National Integrated Maritime Policies (IMP): vision formulation, regional embeddedness and institutional attributes for effective policy integration, Sustainability, 13(17), 9557, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179557
  • RODRIGUE, J.-P., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2021, Automation in Container Port Systems and Management, TR News, no. 334, July-August 2021, special issue on ‘Innovations on the Horizon’, publication of TRB (Transportation Research Board) – The National Academy of Sciences (US), 20-26 https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/trnews334.pdf
  • SHA, M., NOTTEBOOM, T., ZHANG, T., ZHOU, X., QIN, T., 2021, Simulation Model to Determine Ratios between Quay, Yard and Intra-Terminal Transfer Equipment in an Integrated Container Handling System, Journal of International Logistics and Trade, 19(1), 1-18, https://doi.org/10.24006/jilt.2021.19.1.001
  • CZERMANSKI, E., CIRELLA, G.T., ONISZCZUK-JASTRZĄBEK, A., PAWLOWSKA, B., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2021, An energy consumption approach to estimate air emission reductions in container shipping, Energies, 14(2), 278, https://doi.org/10.3390/en14020278
  • FRASER, D., MPIKELELI, T., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2021. A valuation approach of port funding strategies with application to a container terminal concession in Sub Saharan Africa, Maritime Business Review (MABR), 6(2), 147-172, https://doi.org/10.1108/MABR-12-2019-0057
  • YANG, D., NOTTEBOOM, T., ZHOU, X., 2021, Spatial, temporal and institutional characteristics of entry strategies in inland container terminals: a comparison between Yangtze River and Rhine River, Journal of Transport Geography, 90, 102928, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102928
  • PAROLA, F., SATTA, G., NOTTEBOOM, T., PERSICO, L., 2021, Revisiting traffic forecasting by port authorities in the context of port planning and development, Maritime Economics & Logistics, 23, 444–494, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-020-00170-7
  • GE, J., ZHU, M., SHA, M., NOTTEBOOM, T., SHI, W., WANG, X., 2021, Towards 25,000 TEU vessels? A comparative economic analysis of ultra-large containership sizes under different market and operational conditions, Maritime Economics and Logistics, 23, 587–614, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-019-00136-4
  • NOTTEBOOM, T. 2021, Container (liner) shipping, in: VICKERMAN, R. (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Transportation (section on “Freight Transport and Logistics”), Volume 3, Elsevier, pp. 247-256. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102671-7.10254-4
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., 2020, Roro shipping vs. trucking: revisiting the impact of low sulphur marine fuel use on the cost competitiveness of routing options in North Europe, WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 19, 399–426 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-020-00221-z
  • YANG, Z., HE, Y., ZHU, H., NOTTEBOOM, T., 2020, China’s Investment in African Ports: Spatial Distribution, Entry Modes and Investor Profile, Research in Transportation Business and Management, 37, December 2020, 100571, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2020.100571
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., HARALAMBIDES, H., 2020, Port management and governance in a post COVID-19 era: quo vadis?, Maritime Economics and Logistics, 22, 329–352, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-020-00162-7
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., VAN DER LUGT, L., VAN SAASE, N., SEL, S., NEYENS, K., 2020, The role of seaports in Green Supply Chain Management: initiatives, attitudes and perspectives in Rotterdam, Antwerp, North Sea Port and Zeebrugge, Sustainability, vol. 12, 1688 https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041688
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., YANG, D., XU, H., 2020, Container barge network development in inland rivers: A comparison between the Yangtze River and the Rhine River, Transportation Research part A: Policy and Practice, 132, 587-605, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2019.10.014
  • NOTTEBOOM, T., FRASER, D., 2020, The Development of the Container Port System in Southern Africa, in: OLUKOJU, A., CASTILLO HIDALGO, D. (eds.), African Seaports and Maritime Economics in Historical Perspective, Palgrave Studies in Maritime Economics, London, 978-3-030-41399-6, pp. 171-201, https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030413989