Shipping companies are key drivers of maritime trade and crucial in the development of container shipping networks. Each company's strategy shapes differences in port services and shipping routes, creating a complex and interconnected global container shipping network that is difficult to analyze using single-layer or aggregated models. This paper introduces a novel multiplex network modeling approach that leverages a very large set of AIS data and applies a series of structural indices to reveal the unique characteristics and multiple key roles of various shipping company networks. By applying methods such as overlap ratio analysis, HITS analysis, and community detection, the study identifies differences in overlap between ports and routes, hub and authority properties of individual ports, as well as local and regional patterns within the global network. Furthermore, it examines structural differences between the multiplex network, the aggregated network, and individual layers, highlighting the importance of multiplex container networks in understanding ports' roles on both regional and global scales. The findings clarify how different shipping companies shape shipping network patterns, enhance the multiplex network's functional roles, and provide a better understanding of the complex structure of the Global Container Shipping Network (GCSN). Finally, it provides authorities with valuable insights on how to better understand maritime shipping networks.

中文翻译：

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揭示全球集装箱运输的多元化网络：航运公司的见解


航运公司是海上贸易的主要推动者，对集装箱运输网络的发展至关重要。每家公司的战略都塑造了港口服务和航线的差异，从而创建了一个复杂且相互关联的全球集装箱运输网络，很难使用单层或聚合模型进行分析。本文介绍了一种新颖的多重网络建模方法，该方法利用大量 AIS 数据并应用一系列结构指标来揭示各种航运公司网络的独特特征和多重关键角色。通过应用重叠率分析、HITS分析和社区检测等方法，该研究确定了港口和航线之间重叠的差异、各个港口的枢纽和当局属性以及全球网络内的本地和区域模式。此外，它还研究了复合网络、聚合网络和各个层之间的结构差异，强调了复合集装箱网络在理解港口在区域和全球范围内的作用的重要性。研究结果阐明了不同的航运公司如何塑造航运网络模式，增强复合网络的功能角色，并提供对全球集装箱航运网络（GCSN）复杂结构的更好理解。最后，它为当局提供了有关如何更好地了解海运网络的宝贵见解。