Strategic trade-off between vessel delay and schedule recovery: an empirical analysis of container liner shipping

In this paper, we empirically test the relationship between the delay of containerships and the scheduled operations in a terminal, based on a dataset containing information on 352 containership arrivals during a 9-month period at seven terminals of three North American ports. We find that a vessel is less likely to be delayed when there are more operations scheduled shortly (up to 3 days) after the vessel’s berthing window in the terminal. Moreover, we also find that the more containers a vessel needs to unload in the terminal, the less likely that it would be delayed. Both findings support the hypothesis that liners strategically balance the trade-off between delay cost and schedule recovery cost.     

Simulation-based severe weather-induced container terminal economic loss estimation

Container terminals play a critical role in maritime supply chains. However, they show vulnerabilities to severe weather events due to the sea–land interface locations. Previous severe weather risk analysis focused more on larger assessment units, such as regions and cities. Limited studies assessed severe weather risks on a smaller scale of seaports. This paper aims to propose a severe weather-induced container terminal loss estimation framework. Based on a container terminal operation simulation model, monthly average loss and single event-induced loss are obtained by using historical hazard records and terminal operation records as model inputs. By studying the Port of Shenzhen as the case study, we find that the fog events in March lead to the longest monthly port downtime and the highest monthly severe weather-induced economic losses in the studied port. The monthly average loss is estimated to be 30 million USD, accounting for 20% of the intact income. The worst-case scenario is found to be a red-signal typhoon attack which results in nearly 20% decrease in the month’s income. The results provide useful references for various container terminal stakeholders in severe weather risk management.     

集装箱码头设计吞吐能力参数选择的实证研究

介绍集装箱码头设计吞吐能力计算公式中各参数的规范取值 ,通过对深圳主要集装箱码头吞吐能力的实证分析 ,对设计参数的取值范围进行修正 ,在此基础上重新核算深圳主要集装箱码头设计吞吐能力 ,并进行灵敏度分析 ,其结果符合深圳各集装箱码头的运作现实。     

基于eM-Plant的某集装箱码头工艺系统仿真评估

为验证阿布扎比哈里发港集装箱码头二期项目工程工艺系统设计的合理性,利用面向对象建模的eM-Plant仿真软件对该项目设计方案下的码头整体作业、水平运输、箱区极限装卸和闸口通过能力4个方面进行仿真评估。结果表明工艺系统各环节布置基本合理。对设备调度和交通管理等给出操作建议,为营运方有针对性地进行生产管理和实现港区装卸系统高效运行提供指导。     

‘Tool port’ to ‘landlord port’: a game theory approach to analyse gains from governance model transformation

This study investigates potential port users’ surplus and terminal operators’ profits due to transforming port governance from the ‘tool port’ model to the ‘landlord port’ model. Although the landlord port model is one of the most adopted and successful port governance models, many ports still operate under other models. Chittagong Port, the largest port in Bangladesh, currently operates under the tool port model, while the country’s second-largest port, Mongla Port, operates under the service port model. Chittagong Port is currently facing many challenges, including capacity expansion and renovation of port facilities. Therefore, we form four hypothetical situations for port governance model transformation, assuming that Chittagong Port will transform to the landlord port model but that Mongla Port will run under the existing governance model. Estimating a Bertrand game model, we present a cost-benefit analysis for port users and terminal operators (or port authorities) in hypothetical game situations. The results reveal that privatising one of the container terminals under a landlord setting is the most profitable scenario for Chittagong Port Authority, but privatising all terminals of Chittagong Port yields the highest users’ surplus. However, privatising two of the terminals while they cooperate yields the lowest users’ surplus.     

“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。     

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.     

国外自动化集装箱码头应用现状及建设借鉴

介绍国外已经建成投产的全自动化、半自动化集装箱码头总体布置和自动化装卸工艺,总结几种较为常用的集装箱码头自动化模式及适用条件,为我国自动化集装箱码头的建设提供借鉴。     

自动化集装箱码头供配电方案

针对目前自动化集装箱码头供电模式经济性、效率及安全性难以兼顾的问题,探讨解决方案。通过研究目前国内外自动化集装箱码头装卸工艺的特点,对比传统码头供配电的模式,提出供配电的多种模式和方案,并进行运行效率和可行性的定性分析及定量计算。最终选择采用后方辅建区新建无人值守变电所,一座变电所对一个泊位独立供电;冷藏箱、AGV充电站环网式箱变就近供电的综合供配电的方案模式,达到供电效率与安全兼顾的目的。该方案成功运用于青岛港自动化码头工程中,可为未来新建自动化码头提供参考。     

虚拟仿真优化技术在外高桥五期工程总体设计中的应用

基于离散事件动态系统和系统仿真理论,文章在专用仿真语言witness的平台上,研究开发了集装箱码头装卸系统的仿真模型,对外高桥五期集装箱码头的水平运输、前沿宽度、泊位系统等初步设计方案做了深入的仿真分析,做出了最优设计选择。模型动态显示整个码头运行过程,可分析码头装卸系统中各种性能参数。模型的成功应用说明虚拟仿真优化技术将在今后的码头设计中发挥更大的作用。     

Application of El Farol model for managing marine terminal gate congestion

Truck queuing at marine terminal gates has long been recognized as a source of emissions problem due to the large number of trucks idling. For this reason, there is a great deal of interest among the different stakeholders to lessen the severity of the problem. An approach being experimented by some terminals to reduce truck queuing at the terminal is to provide live views of their gates via webcams. An assumption made by the terminals in this method is that truck dispatchers and drivers will make rational decisions regarding their departure times such that there will be less fluctuations in truck arrivals at the terminal based on the live information. However, it is clear that if dispatchers send trucks to the terminal whenever the truck queues are short and not send trucks when the truck queues are long, it could lead to a perpetual whip lash effect. This study explores the predictive strategies that need to be made by the various dispatchers to achieve the desired effects (i.e. steady arrival of trucks and hence less queuing at the seaport terminal gates). This problem is studied with the use of an agent-based simulation model and the solution to the well known El Farol Bar problem. Results demonstrate that truck depots can manage (without any collaboration with one another) to minimize congestion at seaport terminal gates by using the provided real-time gate congestion information and some simple logics for estimating the expected truck wait time.     

Impact of container chassis management practices in the United States on terminal operational efficiency: An operations and mitigation policy analysis

Existing policies designed to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of truck queuing at maritime terminals often focus on congestion problems outside of the terminal gate, targeting a reduction in the waiting and turn time of trucks as the measure of success. This paper evaluates the impact that intra-terminal truck and equipment movements have on the terminal’s overall performance and the implications that these movements have on the effectiveness of current mitigation policies. Through a simulation of terminal processes occurring at Southern California ports it is shown that measures driving reductions in truck turn times impose greater operational loads on terminal equipment, essentially transferring savings in truck turn time rather than eliminating it in terms of the overall system. Consequently, the paper finds that total truck and cargo handling equipment movement and operational time constitutes a more accurate measure of the effectiveness of policies seeking to mitigate the impacts of truck operations at marine terminals.     

Vertical integration and its implications to port expansion

ABSTRACT

Over the years many shipping lines have established terminal operation companies, with some set up as independent firms. However, port authorities and local governments have not always welcomed external investment and control with open arms. The economic implications and each stakeholder’s best strategies remain unclear. This study develops an analytical model in order to study the effects of vertical integration, with a focus on shipping lines’ investment in ports’ capacity. Modelling results suggest that vertical integration between terminal operator and a shipping line leads to higher port capacity, port charge, market output and consumer surplus. It also reduces delay costs. All these results suggest that vertical integration can be an important source of synergy for the maritime industry. Although vertical integration increases the participating carrier’s output at the expenses of non-integrating rival shipping firms, our numerical analysis suggests that the overall social welfare is likely to increase. Preliminary empirical tests confirm that vertically integrated ports handle more traffic volumes and are associated with better infrastructure and equipment. Therefore, port authorities and government regulators should carefully review the market competition status as well as port expansion plans.     

基于计算机仿真技术的大型原油接卸码头通过能力研究

依托广东省某大型原油接卸码头工程实例,系统分析影响大型原油接卸码头通过能力的影响因素,对原油船舶从到达锚地、进入航道、靠泊作业、卸油作业、离泊作业以及船舶离港避风避浪等船舶的全过程进行详细建模,在考虑潮汐、风浪雾、航道管制规则等影响因素的基础上,建立了大型原油接卸码头港航系统仿真模型,并基于港口服务水平评价指标对码头合理通过能力进行科学论证,为大型原油码头的建设提供科学参考。     

上海国际集装箱港口竞争力研究

从影响港口竞争力的主要因素角度分析了上海港发展国际集装箱运输的现状,结合国际集装箱港口的竞争态势,找出上海港的薄弱环节,进而有针对性地提出了提升上海国际集装箱港口竞争力的主要途径,对于上海港参与国际集装箱运输的竞争具有重要意义。     

基于模拟减少集装箱船待港时间的实用方法(英文)

The main challenge for container ports is the planning required for berthing container ships while docked in port.Growth of containerization is creating problems for ports and container terminals as they reach their capacity limits of various resources which increasingly leads to traffic and port congestion.Good planning and management of container terminal operations reduces waiting time for liner ships.Reducing the waiting time improves the terminal’s productivity and decreases the port difficulties.Two important keys to reducing waiting time with berth allocation are determining suitable access channel depths and increasing the number of berths which in this paper are studied and analyzed as practical solutions.Simulation based analysis is the only way to understand how various resources interact with each other and how they are affected in the berthing time of ships.We used the Enterprise Dynamics software to produce simulation models due to the complexity and nature of the problems.We further present case study for berth allocation simulation of the biggest container terminal in Iran and the optimum access channel depth and the number of berths are obtained from simulation results.The results show a significant reduction in the waiting time for container ships and can be useful for major functions in operations and development of container ship terminals.     

长江中上游集装箱码头型式和装卸工艺系统研究

从码头型式和码头前沿装卸工艺两方面提出了提高长江中上游斜坡码头装卸效率的措施，并对文中所提出的各种装卸工艺系统进行了码头通过能力计算，以供长江中上游集装箱码头改建和新建时参考。     

浅议老港区码头加固改造方法

老港区码头加固和改造是提升码头能力、缓解货物装卸压力的有效方法，具有周期短、节省资金、施工方便等特点，将会给港方带来巨大的经济和社会效益。介绍了传统的老港区码头改造加固方法以及结构粘钢技术和碳纤维加固混凝土技术在码头改造中的应用。对传统方法和两种新技术进行了比较。     

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。     

中韩集装箱码头泊位通过能力计算方法比较分析

首先介绍了中国大陆、中国香港和韩国三地现行的集装箱码头泊位通过能力计算公式，并从参数的选取、参数的取值和公式的结构三方面对计算公式进行了比较分析，指出了三地现行的集装箱码头泊位通过能力计算公式之间的差异，并通过实例分析指出了中国大陆目前还在采用的《海港总平面设计规范》（JTJ211-99）中的集装箱码头泊位通过能力计算公式存在的问题，揭示出集装箱码头年泊位实际吞吐能力超过设计能力的主要原因，并提出了相关建议。