Maritime Deviation

Maritime shipping lines try to offer the most direct services possible, but the routing this entails must be reconciled with the location of ports. The maritime deviation is the additional distance away from the main shipping routes it takes to service a specific port. The higher it is the more reluctant maritime shipping companies will be to use this port along their major pendulum routes, unless the port has a significant hinterland. On the above figure, five ports (1 to 5) each have a deviation from the main maritime route (labeled D1 to D5). Port number 3 is the one having the least deviation and could thus be a suitable location for an offshore hub servicing the other ports through feeder routes. From a maritime deviation standpoint, port number 5 would be the least suitable to be serviced through a regular pendulum route.

Yet, it is also possible for maritime shipping lines to deviate their own routes in order to minimize the summation of deviations to ports along these routes. On the above figure, an alternate route can be used and results in a reduction of the total deviation. While for ports number 3 and 5 the deviation would not change noticeably, if would improve markedly for ports 2 and 4. Thus, depending on port size and the configuration of maritime shipping routes, shipping companies will either opt for the direct or the deviated route. Those wishing to offer fast and high frequency services will opt for limited deviations and possibly the usage of offshore hubs along the routes while those opting for market coverage (at the expense of frequency and speed) will have more deviations.