Shipping　companies　are　key　drivers　of　maritime　trade　and　crucial　in　the　development　of　container　shipping　networks.　Each　company＇s　strategy　shapes　differences　in　port　services　and　shipping　routes,　creating　a　complex　and　interconnected　global　container　shipping　network　that　is　difficult　to　analyze　using　single-layer　or　aggregated　models.　This　paper　introduces　a　novel　multiplex　network　modeling　approach　that　leverages　a　very　large　set　of　AIS　data　and　applies　a　series　of　structural　indices　to　reveal　the　unique　characteristics　and　multiple　key　roles　of　various　shipping　company　networks.　By　applying　methods　such　as　overlap　ratio　analysis,　HITS　analysis,　and　community　detection,　the　study　identifies　differences　in　overlap　between　ports　and　routes,　hub　and　authority　properties　of　individual　ports,　as　well　as　local　and　regional　patterns　within　the　global　network.　Furthermore,　it　examines　structural　differences　between　the　multiplex　network,　the　aggregated　network,　and　individual　layers,　highlighting　the　importance　of　multiplex　container　networks　in　understanding　ports＇　roles　on　both　regional　and　global　scales.　The　findings　clarify　how　different　shipping　companies　shape　shipping　network　patterns,　enhance　the　multiplex　network＇s　functional　roles,　and　provide　a　better　understanding　of　the　complex　structure　of　the　Global　Container　Shipping　Network　(GCSN).　Finally,　it　provides　authorities　with　valuable　insights　on　how　to　better　understand　maritime　shipping　networks.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd