Clustering and discrimination of port function in China

According to the sample characteristics of ports in China, 11 major function indexes were selected, factor analysis model was established, and suitability test was carried out. On the basis of principal component analysis, three factors were extracted. By using factor rotation and normalization, the major functions of 24 seaports in China were clustered based on system coagulation method. The functional category of Yantai Port was discriminated by using MATLAB. Analysis result shows that based on the classifications of economic function factor, urban function factor and logistics function factor, 24 seaports in China can be clustered into 7 categories. The first class port is Shanghai Port, the second class port is Shenzhen Port, the third class port is Guangzhou Port, and the forth class port is Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. The fifth class ports are Qingdao Port, Tianjin Port and Dalian Port. The sixth class ports are Xiamen Port, Dandong Port, Weihai Port, Shantou Port, Beihai Port, Fangcheng Port, Haikou Port, Lianyungang Port, Yingkou Port, Qinhuangdao Port and Rizhao Port. The seventh class ports are Tangshan Port, Wenzhou Port, Taizhou Port, Fuzhou Port, Quanzhou Port and Zhanjiang Port. Then Yantai Port is identified into the seventh class by using artificial neural network method. So, the method is effective.