Table 4.

Identified factors, theme 3: port selection criteria

Theme	Factor	References	Expected impact towards a Direct Connection
Port selection criteria	Affiliated terminal	Notteboom et al. (2017), Wiegmans et al. (2008)	+
	Connectivity	Chang et al. (2008), Wiegmans et al. (2008)	+
	Logistics performance	Wiegmans et al. (2008), Tran (2011), Wong et al. (2008)	+
	Nautical distance	Malchow and Kanafani (2001)	−
	Political stability	Gohomene et al. (2016), Jia et al. (2020)	+
	Port infrastructure	Clark et al. (2004), Gohomene et al. (2016), Jia et al. (2020), Tang et al. (2011), Ugboma et al. (2006), Wong et al. (2008)	+
	Route deviation	Yeo et al. (2008)	−
	Security issues	Clark et al. (2004)	−
	Trade facilitation	Clark et al. (2004)	+
	Trade flow	Chang et al. (2008), Halim et al. (2015), Hsu et al. (2020), Gohomene et al. (2016), Tang et al. (2011), Wiegmans et al. (2008)	+