Empirical studies on yard operations Part 2: Quantifying unproductive moves undertaken in quay transfer operations

The impact of higher container stacking on yard operations has been treated as one of the major factors influencing the efficiency of terminal operations. For terminal operators who have to increase their storage capacity by way of higher container stacking, the consequences must be carefully measured. This paper examines the unproductive container movements undertaken in one high throughput terminal with high land productivity, and provides an example of how terminal operator handles the yard operations and the possible impact on areas of operation.     

Yard operations in the container terminal-a study in the 'unproductive moves'

Research that examined the land utilization of the container terminals in a global perspective revealed that the land utilization planned and achieved by Asian container terminals are much higher than the terminals in western Europe and North America. From the operational point of view, this has led to the question: 'what are the impacts of these strategies in land utilization on the yard operations?' This has subsequently led the research study to focus on the yard operations within the container terminal.     

自动化集装箱码头堆场策略

研究自动化集装箱码头中堆场管理策略的制定、应用和效果评估。自动化码头新的垂直堆场结构带来堆场使用方式、机械作业模式、交互方式、堆码方式、操作习惯及思维方式的变化,因此新的堆场管理方式及堆码策略随之孕育而生。通过对作业进行分类,结合码头内外部情况制定自动化码头堆场策略,提高堆场空间利用率及作业效率,降低作业成本,提升堆场综合能力。     

Modelling and optimisation of online container stacking with operational constraints

Container transportation plays a critical role in the global shipping network and container terminals need to improve their operations to increase efficiency. Storage yard of a container terminal is a temporary area where the containers stay until they are shipped to their next destination. We concentrate on increasing the efficiency of the storage yard by developing online stacking policies for each incoming container. An unproductive move of a container, performed to reach another container stored underneath, is called reshuffling. The objective in container stacking problem is to minimise the number of reshuffles, thereby increasing the efficiency of terminal operations. Additional weight-related operational constraints bring additional complexity to the online stacking decisions. We propose a mathematical model for the optimal online assignment of an incoming export, transit, import or empty container. We also propose an optimal online stacking policy and compare it with a random policy through simulation. Additionally, lower bounds for the performance measures are obtained through simulation by relaxing the operational constraints of the problem in a third stacking policy. We present and discuss the computational results in terms of four main performance measures.     

自动化集装箱码头堆场布置新模式

自动化集装箱堆场是自动化码头的重要组成部分。高效、合理地布置自动化集装箱堆场对码头综合通过能力、装卸效率和营运成本等将产生积极影响。在对国外典型自动化集装箱码头堆场在平面布置、设备选型和功能规划等方面分析的基础上,提出洋山四期全自动化集装箱码头堆场布局新模式。     

集装箱码头堆场装卸工艺分析

通过对场地规划、通过能力、投资和营运成本等方面的综合分析比较可知,从长远考虑,集装箱堆场不宜采用大规模RTG方案,重箱堆场更适合选用RMG方案.RMG堆场应平行于码头布置.     

The RHSA strategy for the allocation of outbound containers based on the hybrid genetic algorithm

Secure storage yard is one of the optimal core goals of container transportation;thus,making the necessary storage arrangements has become the most crucial part of the container terminal management systems（CTMS）.This paper investigates a random hybrid stacking algorithm（RHSA） for outbound containers that randomly enter the yard.In the first stage of RHSA,the distribution among blocks was analyzed with respect to the utilization ratio.In the second stage,the optimization of bay configuration was carried out by using the hybrid genetic algorithm.Moreover,an experiment was performed to test the RHSA.The results show that the explored algorithm is useful to increase the efficiency.     

A simulation model for gate operations in multi-purpose cargo terminals

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose cargo terminal in a seaport contains necessary infrastructure to handle different types of cargo, such as container, dry bulk, general bulk, and Ro-Ro. Since such terminals generally have dedicated areas and equipment for different types of cargo, berth, and yard operations for each type of cargo can be considered separate. On the other hand, trucks that carry all types of cargo use the same gate structure to enter and leave the terminal. Therefore, a method to superimpose the traffic that is caused by different types of cargo is needed for the planning of gate investments and operations. Consequently, this paper has developed a simulation model for a multi-purpose terminal to estimate the gate traffic and determine the necessary gate infrastructure, so that it can be used as a decision support tool for terminal planners and operational managers.     

An energy-cost approach for evaluation of operating systems in container terminals

The planning, design and development of a container terminal with optimum size and capacity and with a minimum capital cost is fundamentally dependent upon the loading and discharging operations at the quayside. Achieving this purpose, terminal operators have to choose the best operating system in the container yard. The decision on which equipment is used at container terminals depends on several factors. The purpose of this study is to provide a new decision making tool using the first law of thermodynamics. It considers a port as a control volume of a fluid system and models the port and its traffic on it. The results of this study evaluate container yard operating systems and set up a basis for decision making to select the best alternatives.     

信息技术在内河集装箱码头管理中的应用

内河集装箱码头在经营管理模式上有其特殊性,生产作业流程不完全依据港口国际集装箱作业流程。信息管理系统着重在集装箱的运作管理、与外部信息交换系统和商务计费系统这几个方面,重点解决系统的"信息孤岛"、检查桥未能履行闸口职能、集装箱堆场场位不准、现场作业信息的反馈、不能与外部共享信息数据等问题。     

顺岸式自动化集装箱码头堆场布局设计

综合考虑码头在规划、建设及运维等多方面的要求,开展自动化集装箱码头堆场布局设计.以天津港北疆港区C段智能化集装箱码头工程建设为例,在码头整体设计要求相同的情况下,提出堆场垂直布置和平行布置2种方案,从堆场通过能力、设备配置数量、装卸作业人员数量、智能化程度、可靠性、碳排放量、创新性等7个方面对比研究2种布置方案与自动化...     

洋山四期自动化集装箱码头装卸工艺设计

针对洋山四期工程的特点,选择自动化装卸工艺系统,并通过对工艺系统设备选型和平面布置的细化和优化,较好地解决了码头装卸与水平运输环节的衔接、陆域狭小对大型深水泊位能力的制约、堆场海陆侧轨道吊作业量不均衡、互拖及运距长等主要问题,为发挥集装箱码头自动化的优势奠定基础。     

Examining the influence of firm performance on business risk-taking and the mediation effect of scale of operations in the container terminal industry

Container shipping and its related service sectors help accelerate globalization of the world economy. This industry has been experiencing rapid growth, prompting container terminal operators to increase their handling capacity in response. Providing container terminal services requires substantial capital investment in physical assets such as cargo handling facilities and information systems. On the other hand, operating container terminals is a long-term investment that typically spans several business cycles. Hence prudent asset management using appropriate tools is critical for container terminal operators to sustain their businesses. Generally, due to risk-adverseness, investors are unwilling to take more risk in their investment unless they can reap a higher return. Contrary to this argument, this study finds no direct influence of better firm performance as a proxy of higher return on business risk-taking by container terminal operators. Instead, scale of operations is positively associated with business risk-taking, suggesting that container terminal operators with a larger scale of operations are willing to take more business risk.     

“零翻箱”自动化立体堆场设计与码头总体布局

集装箱码头是内外贸集装箱货物的集疏运中心,码头的吞吐能力受堆场容量和作业效率的影响。针对集装箱码头堆场的翻箱倒箱问题,基于整个立体库场内每层堆场仅堆放一层重箱的理念,通过AI设计、情景假设、公式推算和数据分析的方法,设计出一项自动化立体堆场方案,并介绍各核心设备和功能区以及作业流程。结果表明,本方案可实现真正意义上“零翻箱”,同时能减少机械设备的配置、使用成本和碳排放量,有利于提升码头作业效率、吞吐能力和经济效益,有助于增强码头和港口企业竞争力。     

集装箱码头物流路径优化研究

根据集装箱码头的工艺流程,提出了集装箱码头物流路径优化模型。该模型以集卡行走里程最短为目标,在满足集装箱堆场堆存要求和船舶装卸作业要求的情况下,求解集卡最优行走路径。算例计算表明,该优化模型可为码头管理者提供一定决策帮助。     

自动化集装箱码头全自动堆垛机(ASC)大车定位技术

全自动集装箱堆垛机(ASC)大车定位的精度和速度,在很大程度上影响着堆场作业的效率及安全。针对自动化集装箱码头ASC大车自动定位问题,分析比较磁钉定位、格雷母线定位、激光测距定位、BPS定位、DGPS定位5种定位技术的原理和特点。结合青岛港自动化集装箱码头实例,综合考虑堆场布置、资金成本、大车运行速度等因素,提出了定位精确、反应迅速、可靠性高的磁钉+旋转编码器定位方法。     

A simulation model proposal to improve the productivity of container terminal operations through investment alternatives

Development of a container terminal (CT) closely deals with the efficiency of operating systems. This paper proposed a model to decide optimum investment alternatives to improve CT productivity. The proposed approach incorporates the parameters such as number of quay cranes, total length of a quay, yard trucks and yard cranes. The objectives of the model are minimizing the average ship turnaround time while maximizing the container throughput generated by the terminal. The methodology behind the model includes Discrete Event Simulation Model, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and cost-efficiency analysis. Considering container ship visits to Container Terminal Alpha (CT-A), the proposed model is demonstrated with 16 different investment scenario along with 10-months recorded operational data. The results addressed the Scenario LENG-2 (extent current total length of quays from 1.560 meters to 2.000 meters) as the optimal feasible solution for an investment in existing conditions. The model is also considered to besides contributions to investment decisions in CT, the developed framework might be extended to other transportation infrastructures.     

Modeling yard crane operators as reinforcement learning agents

Due to the importance of drayage operations, operators at marine container terminals are increasingly looking to reduce the time a truck spends at the terminal to complete a transaction. This study introduces an agent-based approach to model yard cranes for the analysis of truck turn time. The objective of the model is to solve the yard crane scheduling problem (i.e. determining the sequence of drayage trucks to serve to minimize their waiting time). It is accomplished by modeling the yard crane operators as agents that employ reinforcement learning; specifically, q-learning. The proposed agent-based, q-learning model is developed using Netlogo. Experimental results show that the q-learning model is very effective in assisting the yard crane operator to select the next best move. Thus, the proposed q-learning model could potentially be integrated into existing yard management systems to automate the truck selection process and thereby improve yard operations.     

3C技术在集装箱码头生产中的应用

3C技术改造目标是在现存集装箱码头生产MIS系统基础上，实现全码头生产资源管理的无纸化和无缝隙的数据通讯；实现堆场集装箱定位数据的自动核检；实现堆场轮胎吊作业的动态追踪和码头生产作业链上的全程实时调度管理。经过改造后，露天作业的虚拟现实及远程管理的可视化使得中心调度、现场调度和轮胎吊司机的工作方便快捷、和谐有序。该项目可降低堆场仓储成本6％，提高码头生产效率15％。实践证明，3C技术改造是我国集装箱码头实现港口机械化、信息化和自动化的途径之一。     

基于多智能体仿真的集装箱港口作业效率研究

集装箱港口生产作业系统是复杂的离散事件系统,数学建模方法难以构建针对整个系统的模型,而基于过程的仿真模型通常缺乏对设备调度的灵活性。为准确描述我国集装箱港口的作业流程,分析内卡配置数量对港口作业效率的影响,提出了基于事件驱动的集装箱港口多智能体(Multi-Agent)仿真模型。仿真结果表明:岸桥平均装卸效率(GCR)随着内卡数量的增加先急剧增加后缓慢增加,船舶平均等待时间(AWT)和平均在泊时间(AST)与岸桥平均装卸效率呈明显负相关关系。