Port　plays　a　key　role　in　maintaining　traffic　flows　and　the　effectiveness　of　global　maritime　logistics.　However,　the　vulnerability　of　the　Global　Container　Shipping　Network　(GCSN)　is　likely　to　increase　when　a　single　port　interruption　entails　failures　in　cascading　when　ports　encounter　situations　like　congestions,　labor　strikes　or　natural　disasters.　Such　situations　require　the　deployment　of　port　protection　measures　and　adjustments　of　shipping　schedules.　This　paper　introduces　a　cascading　model,　which　employs　extensive　and　worldwide　vessel　trajectory　data　to　comprehensively　analyze　the　occurrence　of　cascading　failures　within　a　GCSN.　The　principles　behind　the　cascading　failure　model　are　that　port　failures　are　simulated　and　the　maritime　traffic　is　redistributed　and　equilibrated　to　other　routes　and　ports.　A　Motter-Lai　overload　model　is　applied,　complemented　by　a　three-level　balanced　redistribution　of　the　traffic　flows　according　to　the　specific　roles　of　the　disrupted　ports.　Overall,　this　favors　the　analysis　of　the　GCSN＇s　vulnerability,　reliability,　potential　risks,　and　possible　impacts.　It　enables　maritime　authorities　and　decision-makers　to　optimize　service　routes　and　mitigate　the　GCSN＇s　vulnerability.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd