A review of game theory to maritime supply chain: A competitive and cooperative perspective

The two most significant dynamic factors in the interplay of the maritime supply chain are competition and cooperation. Shipping companies and ports must make strategic decisions to ensure progressive growth within the ever-evolving market. Game theory provides an important analytical method for examining the dynamics of co-opetition among participants of the maritime supply chain. This paper reviews 172 journal papers on the strategic use of game theory in the maritime supply chain that were published from 2004 to 2024 and proposes an integrative analytical framework based on multidimensional competition and horizontal and vertical cooperation models. The literature review indicates that internal demand drivers and external environment drivers combine to shape competition within the maritime supply chain. Simultaneously, the design of appropriate cooperation mechanisms is key to the successful formation and long-term prosperity of alliances. Finally, this paper synthesizes existing research with the current issues and latest developments within the maritime industry , providing a comprehensive summary of future research directions for the field. • The competition and cooperation dynamics within the maritime supply chain are investigated. • A comprehensive analytical framework is developed to study the application of game theory in analyzing competition and cooperation between shipping companies and ports. • Future research directions for game theory in the maritime supply chain are discussed.