• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.89-102
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of shipping service firm's perceived relational benefits on switching barriers and loyalty focusing on tug boat service. To achieve the purpose of the research, literature survey on existing literature, thesis, research report is performed and also reliability analysis, validity test and multiple regression analysis using SPSSWIN 18.0 is used in this research. To verify a research model and hypothesis, a questionnaire survey among employees of shipping companies and shipping agencies was executed. 76 copies of total 200 copies of questionnaires were collected and the number of questionnaire used for empirical analysis was 76 copies. The main results of the study are summarized as below. First, Hypothesis 1 "shipping service firm's perceived relational benefits has a positive impact on the switching barrier" was supported by this study. Second, Hypothesis 2 "shipping service firm's perceived relational benefits has a positive impact on the loyalty" was supported in this research. Finally, Hypothesis 3 "switching barrier has a positive impact on the customer's loyalty" was also supported. Further research can be extended by adding more questionnaires including more shipping service firms all over the nation.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.67-92
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• 2009

A tugboat (tug) is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that should not move themselves alone, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal, or those that cannot move themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for their size and strongly built, some are ocean-going. Historically tugboats were the first seagoing vessels to receive steam propulsion, freedom from the restraint of the wind, and capability of going in any direction. As such, they were employed in harbors to assist ships in docking and departure. Towage is in essence a service by one vessel to another vessel for a fixed remuneration. The most common reason for requiring this service is the lack of its own motive power. Conventionally, towage is defined as "the employment of one vessel to expedite the voyage of another, when nothing more is required than the accelerating of her progress". Apart from accelerating vessels, acquiring towage service is a common practice for towing barges, platform of drilling oil, floating ship yards, etc.