The hub-and-spoke network has been applied in the maritime transport since 1980s. To make more profit

large containerships are required to calls only a limited number of large ports. Therefore

a hub-and-spoke network would be a better way

comparing to traditional direct call network

for operating liner fleets

in which the bigger and faster ships running on the main routes among the hub ports

and the smaller feeders connect the origins with hub ports or hub ports with destinations. This paper presented a Hub-and-Spoke Maritime Container Transport model (HSMCTm) which tried to minimize the total transport cost of the network after the model result defined hub ports

and the spoke ports and their allocations. The heuristic algorithm was used for realistically sized instances and the solution was optimized by comparing the alternative results from the model computation. A non-Symmetrical Proportional Model (nSPM) was developed to calculate the O-D container matrix of the port system. Then they were applied in the China-Northern west European container liner route

which is under the rapid expansion of container shipping. The result revealed that the hub-and-spoke network possesses the advantage of economic of scale. Comparing to traditional direct call network

the total cost can be reduced to 53%-95% under different scenarios. The total cost curve showed a “U” shape. As the number of hub ports increased

the total cost declined at first then climbed up. The optimal number of hubs in the network is 6 or 7

while the number varied in eastward and westward route with different discount index.In China

Hongkong

Kaoshiung of Taiwan

and Shanghai were the unalterable hub location

while in Northwest European

Zeebrugge

Hamburg

Le Havre

Rotterdam

Antwerp

Felixtowe

and Southampton were alternative hub ports.