Freeports under the lens: securing container supply chains with a risk-based inspection framework

Liang, X, Fan, S ORCID: 0000-0003-3714-7201, Li, H ORCID: 0000-0002-4293-4763, Goerlandt, F and Yang, Z ORCID: 0000-0003-1385-493X (2026) Freeports under the lens: securing container supply chains with a risk-based inspection framework. Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review, 208. ISSN 1366-5545

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Abstract

Freeports that attract illegal activities may become vulnerable without effective measures to ensure a safe and secure Maritime Container Supply Chain (MCSC) involving them. Developing a holistic risk-based inspection framework is essential to address illicit trade challenges in freeports without the need to significantly compromise operational efficiency in a globalized trading environment. However, the existing literature is limited in addressing the uncertainty in container risk levels for establishing inspection priorities and in considering the unique features of freeports. To close these gaps, this study develops a novel framework based on a hybrid two-stage decision-making approach for the optimal container inspection solution, focusing on high-risk containers within the context of Freeport-Centric Supply Chains. The first stage employs a hybrid Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory and Bayesian Network (DEMATEL-BN) model to assess container risk levels, accounting for interdependent vulnerabilities across MCSC nodes. The findings identify the most critical risk nodes within the MCSC, including consolidation centers and loading ports. Furthermore, it measures the risk levels of containers based on both severity and likelihood metrics, which serve as key inputs for determining inspection rates in the second stage, distinguishing the approach by effectively addressing uncertainties often overlooked in existing container inspection frameworks. This approach makes new contributions to enhancing the security of freeports and various MCSCs by enabling targeted risk mitigation, optimizing inspection strategies, and balancing security with trade flow efficiency.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Freeport; Container Supply Chain; Illicit trade; Risk assessment; Inspection optimization; 3509 Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chains; 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; 0102 Applied Mathematics; 0103 Numerical and Computational Mathematics; 1507 Transportation and Freight Services; Logistics & Transportation; 3509 Transportation, logistics and supply chains
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications T Technology > T Technology (General)
Divisions:	Engineering and Built Environment
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	31 December 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	1 September 2026
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2026 08:57
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2026 08:57
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.tre.2025.104658
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29245

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