1 Port Performance: Criteria for measuring users perceptions in different port markets George K. VAGGELAS 1) and Athanasios A. PALLIS 2) 1) Research in Shipping and Ports (RESHIP) Laboratory, University of the Aegean, Greece, apallis@aegean.gr 2) Research in Shipping and Ports (RESHIP) Laboratory, University of the Aegean, Greece, g.vaggelas@stt.aegean.gr ABSTRACT The importance of measuring port performance has increased. In conditions of intense competition, ports are transformed to commercial and industrial entities driven by changing market conditions and seek (among other goals) to increase related revenues and market shares. The measurement of port performance emerges as an issue of high priority, notwithstanding the need for such measurement devoting attention to all two components of performance, namely efficiency and effectiveness. A key element for understanding which strategies should a given port adopt are the perceptions of its users as regards the performance of the port and, ultimately, the level of the users’ satisfaction. Yet, industry practices on performance - and to a large extent academic research – have focused mostly on operational performance parameters; both in theory and in practice the perceptions of port users have gained some attention in recent times. Advancing discussions on how best to measure port effectiveness, this study develops a typology of criteria for measuring users’ perceptions. Respecting the peculiarities of different types of markets, three different typologies are developed with reference to container, ro/ro, and cruise ports respectively. Keywords: port performance, port users perceptions, port effectiveness