An ERP approach for container terminal operating systems

The major characteristics of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) are an enterprise-wide system that covers all the business functions and information resources, integrated database, built-in best industry practice, packaged software and open architecture. ERP enables reduction of system development time, flexibility, standardization of workflow and effective business planning capability. ERP is mainly for the manufacturing industry. However, the principles of ERP can also be applied to container terminal operating systems. This paper presents an ERP system approach for a container terminal. It has clustered the workflow of a container terminal and analysed the business process to generate the best workflows. The integrated database is designed to eliminate redundancy and keep integration. The core of ERP for container terminal is the planning facility such as berth planning and yard planning. The planning capability is very tightly coupled with data flow from client entities such as shipping companies. The ERP can handle the existing problems of container terminal operation that are mainly caused by lack of integration of a whole information resource in a container terminal, ad-hoc and poor planning capability, disconnected and incorrect data from client companies. The ERP approach can not only resolve the problems of container terminals but also promote adoption of information systems for container terminals in the world that have not yet implemented terminal operating systems.     

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.     

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.     

集装箱码头设备设施运行维护智能集控平台的构建与应用

为提升集装箱码头整体服务水平,利用信息融合技术和智能联动控制技术,集成码头六大系统,构建了一个集技术集成、流程联动、业务协同为一体的设备设施运行维护智能集控平台.介绍智能集控平台构建的关键技术和具体实施.该智能集控平台取得良好的社会效益和经济效益.为集装箱码头信息化建设提供了一种新思路.     

基于离散事件系统仿真的集装箱码头布置规划研究

集装箱码头的规划布置涉及多种复杂的影响因素,是系统性设计和不断优化的过程.本研究采用eM-plant软件模拟集装箱码头备选方案的作业系统,并根据实时统计生成仿真数据库;采用专家调研法和层次分析法创建尽可能全面反映备选方案信息的评价指标体系,并赋予各评价指标不同的权重;结合码头作业系统仿真模拟运行的情况,综合运用层次分析...     

基于二维数值仿真的集装箱码头规划设计虚拟现实系统

基于二维数值仿真与虚拟现实技术,研究了集装箱码头规划设计的虚拟现实系统.在该系统下可以快速搭建集装箱码头三维动画场景,并通过集装箱码头装卸生产过程的数值分析与三维动画视景,分析码头平面与装卸工艺设计的合理性,揭示码头物流系统的潜在瓶颈,进一步完善和丰富集装箱码头的设计内容.     

低碳型集装箱港区港内道路规划方案优选

合理的港内道路路网结构及交通组织是集装箱港口作业效率提升以及节能减排的重要保证。提出利用集装箱港区生产作业智能体微观交通仿真模型模拟集装箱生产作业流程,并以集装箱港口服务水平和集卡日均碳排放成本作为指标,优选低碳型集装箱港区港内道路规划方案。应用实例表明,集装箱港区生产作业智能体微观交通仿真模型可有效模拟港内作业过程,通过对比分析不同道路规划方案下的评价指标,得到最优的港内道路规划方案,为港区道路规划与设计提供参考。     

自动化集装箱码头智能闸口信息采集系统设计

以青岛港自动化集装箱码头智能闸口项目为例,针对自动化集装箱码头业务流程、逻辑校验、信息备案以及口岸单位监管的需求,提出集装箱、集装箱卡车、集装箱卡车司机等信息确保准确性、实时性和完整性的要求。青岛港自动化集装箱码头从智能闸口的平面布局、业务流程和信息采集等方面进行研究和设计,采用当前成熟的硬件设备和信息处理系统,形成智能闸口信息采集系统的解决方案,设计高效、准确的智能化集装箱闸口系统,为自动化集装箱码头智能闸口的设计和建设提供了理论和实践依据。     

A new rule-based integrated decision making approach to container transshipment terminal selection

The choice of the port or terminal to perform transshipment operations is a critical decision for container transportation companies (i.e. shipping line companies). This choice is not only affected by transshipment costs but also by the location, infrastructure, equipment, and technologies of the alternative terminals. In this study, a rule-based integrated multi-criteria group decision making approach is proposed in order to support such complex decision processes which involve substantial uncertainties and subjectivities. The proposed approach involves simple mathematics and provides a flexible modeling approach close to human reasoning that is able to consider uncertain information and relationships of arbitrary complexity. To prioritize the sub-criteria affecting the choice of the most appropriate terminal and to assess alternatives with respect to these sub-criteria, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on absolute measurement is used. Then, to determine the most appropriate terminal, a Fuzzy Rule-Based System is developed, which adopts the scores of criteria (i.e. the total scores of sub-criteria) obtained by AHP as input. In order to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach, an application is presented for the choice of the most appropriate container transshipment port in Turkey for a shipping line company.     

自动化集装箱码头业务流程设计

针对目前自动化集装箱码头的设计中缺少业务流程的规范性和纲领性操作指引的问题,从自动化集装箱码头业务流程的基础框架、分类及层级设计原则、设计方法和步骤以及流程建模与验证等方面进行研究,并结合青岛港自动化集装箱码头进行业务流程设计。结果表明,使用本文方法设计的自动化集装箱码头业务流程能够提升决策和建设的效率,可为类似工程提供参考。     

A fuzzy AHP decision support system for selecting yard cranes in marine container terminals

One of the most important issues that planners and developers of ports have to address at the planning process of container terminals is how to effectively optimize truck turnaround times. The time that a truck spends at a container terminal for loading and/or unloading of cargo is a real cost scenario which affects not only the smooth operation of ports but also the overall cost of the container trade. The main objective of this article is to provide a decision support tool for selecting the best container yard gantry crane for loading/discharging operation of trucks at the landside of marine container terminals. Achieving this goal, this study aims at introducing and recommending the multiple attribute decision-making and the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process models that have been proven to provide a concrete basis for such a selection decision.     

Optimal management of human resources in transhipment container ports

Human resources allocation plays a key role in transhipment maritime container terminals to achieve high levels of productivity and provide high quality services to shipping companies. The deep interest of container terminals in this issue can be supported by optimization methods. In this work, an optimization model is proposed to determine the optimal daily allocation of crane operators and trailer drivers. Different requirements are taken into account for permanent staff, external workers and personnel shortfall. Since workforce undermanning is a crucial factor for both shipping companies and container terminals, we aim to show that personnel shortfalls and operation delays can be significantly reduced if the model encompasses a longer-than-1-day planning horizon in a rolling horizon fashion.     

船舶虚拟装配集成化建模方法研究(英文)

A new method of virtual ship assembly modeling which integrates ship three-dimensional design and ship construction planning was described in this paper. A workflow model of simulation modeling based on the virtual ship assembly process was also established; furthermore, a method of information transformation between the ship three-dimensional design and ship construction plan was formulated. To meet the requirements of information sharing between different systems in the ship virtual assembly, a simulation database was created by using the software engineering design method and the relational data model. With the application of this database, the information of ship three-dimensional design, construction planning, and virtual assembly can be integrated into one system. Subsequently, this new method was applied as a tool to simulate the virtual assembly of a ship, and the results guarantee its rationality and reliability.     

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。     

Traffic impact analysis of inspection area site selection at a foreign trade container terminal

ABSTRACT

To improve the security and efficiency of terminal operations, a key issue for land area layout at a foreign trade container terminal is to plan and design an inspection area. Since it directly affects terminal traffic, while determining inspection area site selection, we should pay a great attention to operations and management of terminal traffic as well as container inspection. This paper employs a system decomposition technique to develop an integrated simulation framework, which enables us to flexibly obtain the whole picture of terminal traffic conditions and evaluate traffic impacts of inspection area site selection. A real-world terminal with typical patterns of land area layout is chosen to carry out a case study, which shows that traffic flow is unevenly distributed on the terminal road network and that the distribution is influenced by truck streams at the terminal. New findings also include: (1) traffic volume at the terminal apron is rather unbalanced in association with the non-continuous utilization of berths; (2) a proper inspection area should be located near the gate if the terminal conditions permit from the perspective of terminal traffic. This work may provide a decision-making reference for the planning and construction of foreign trade container terminals.     

集装箱码头泊位资源动态配置优化

集装箱码头泊位系统是一个典型的排队系统,船舶可视为系统的服务对象即顾客.将泊位及与之对应的岸桥作为一个整体可视为船舶排队系统的服务台,优化配置泊位资源就是基于这一特殊的排队系统进行最优的泊位数量决策.在对集装箱码头服务系统特性分析的基础上,基于排队论对集装箱码头泊位规模的确定进了数学建模,并开发了模拟迭代算法,结合实例分析显示了模型及算法的有效性.     

Consolidation and contestability in the European container handling industry

The first part of this paper brings into discussion some recent changes in the dynamics of the European container handling business, in particular as a result of vertical and horizontal integration strategies of container terminal operators. The industry structure has become sufficiently consolidated to raise a fundamental question about whether market forces are sufficient to prevent the abuse of market power. In this context, reference is made to the theory of contestable markets. The second part of the paper looks more closely to the issue of contestability by means of an exploratory and qualitative study of elements that could prevent other players entering or exiting the European container handling market. As such, a first indication is given of the degree of contestability in the container handling industry.     

Consolidation and contestability in the European container handling industry

The first part of this paper brings into discussion some recent changes in the dynamics of the European container handling business, in particular as a result of vertical and horizontal integration strategies of container terminal operators. The industry structure has become sufficiently consolidated to raise a fundamental question about whether market forces are sufficient to prevent the abuse of market power. In this context, reference is made to the theory of contestable markets. The second part of the paper looks more closely to the issue of contestability by means of an exploratory and qualitative study of elements that could prevent other players entering or exiting the European container handling market. As such, a first indication is given of the degree of contestability in the container handling industry.     

Maritime liner shipping and the stevedoring industry: market structure and competition strategies

Globalization, liberalization, competition and spatial interaction are significant factors affecting the transformation of manufacturing industries worldwide. In the transportation and logistics industry, however, cooperation is becoming even more critical than competition in determining firms' efficiency. Cooperation has always characterized the liner sector in which strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions have generated twin effects: notable increases in ship size and falls in freight rates. Meanwhile, the stevedoring industry is undergoing privatization-driven consolidation and the emergence of global pure terminal operators. This article focuses on vertical integration between global carriers and terminal operators. We address the following key current issues:

• dedicated terminals as a strategy for cutting costs and controlling integrated transport chains;
• the struggle for supply chain control, involving global carriers versus global terminal operators, driven by financial power and technical and managerial capability.

We close analysing one of the core problems of the market, namely the evolving role of the dedicated terminals. For the pure stevedores they represent an opportunity to secure a cargo, while in the hands of the liners they enable cost stability and the possibility to put pressure on pure terminal operators.     

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.