A Chilean Maritime Highway

Abstract

Coastal shipping in Chile has a long tradition, and national cabotage laws continue to protect the domestic shipping market. The country's extensive coastline, the population concentration along the coast, and a lack of connecting rail networks might make coastal (short sea) shipping seem to be a viable option as part of an efficient and sustainable freight mobility strategy for Chile. This paper examines the potential for coastal shipping in Chile. It evaluates freight structure, demand and modal split, and the supply of shipping services over the past decade. Three markets are presented—a northern corridor, a southern corridor, and a combination of the two—and evaluated for adequate demand for coastal shipping. Six conclusions are drawn about the promise of short sea shipping developments in Chile, including identifying a future research agenda and filling missing data gaps.