Optimal container ship size: a global cost minimization approach

ABSTRACT

Currently, the best container ship size in a service is determined mainly by the liner operator, considering only the economies of scale of ships. Its external diseconomies to the ports and shippers are usually not considered in the decision-making process, which may reduce the overall efficiency and lead to global nonoptimality. This study incorporates the cost to the shipping companies at the main lines, ports, and feeder services, as well as the external costs to shippers and ports in a hub-and-spoke network, and determines the best ship size and the number of weekly services to minimize the overall costs. The external cost to the shippers in the feeder ports is assumed to be proportional to the feeder cost, and a sensitivity analysis is provided. The maximum container ship size is estimated according to different levels of freight demand. A numerical analysis shows that the optimal size should be smaller than the current biggest container ships in service.     

Essential elements in tactical planning models for container liner shipping

Tactical planning models for liner shipping problems such as network design and fleet deployment usually minimize the total cost or maximize the total profit subject to constraints including ship availability, service frequency, ship capacity, and transshipment. Most models in the literature do not consider slot-purchasing, multi-type containers, empty container repositioning, or ship repositioning, and they formulate the numbers of containers to transport as continuous variables. This paper develops a mixed-integer linear programming model that captures all these elements. It further examines from the theoretical point of view the additional computational burden introduced by incorporating these elements in the planning model. Extensive numerical experiments are conducted to evaluate the effects of the elements on tactical planning decisions. Results demonstrate that slot-purchasing and empty container repositioning have the largest impact on tactical planning decisions and relaxing the numbers of containers as continuous variables has little impact on the decisions.     

Centralized versus distributed feeder ship service: The case of the Maasvlakte harbour area of Rotterdam

Coastal and inland feeder shipping is a critical factor for intercontinental container transport. The question is whether each intercontinental terminal should be equipped with its own service stations for feeder shipping, or whether pooling of the facilities would be more effective. For this paper, the service station examined for the service of feeder ships is equipped with two quay cranes operating in parallel supported by a small active quay stack. The centre for this feeder service consists of several of these stations. Simulation shows that a crane productivity of 96% is feasible with an average vehicle waiting time of 1 min, that a central service requires fewer service stations than a distributed service and that the quay transport for central and distributed transport requires the same number of terminal vehicles. The analysis shows that a centralized service is preferable, attracting 70% of the market potential.     

Container terminal employees’ perceptions of the effects of sustainable supply chain management on sustainability performance

ABSTRACT

Sustainability has become an important issue in container terminal operations. However, relatively little research has been conducted to assess its association with sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). In this study, SSCM consists of internal sustainability practices and external sustainability collaboration. We empirically examined the effects of internal sustainability practices and external sustainability collaboration on sustainability performance in container terminal operations at the Port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan. We developed a model adopting the SSCM construct, which consisted of two dimensions: internal sustainability practices and external sustainability collaboration. Several research hypotheses were formulated from the theory and the hypotheses were tested using survey data collected from 141 employees who worked with container terminals. We found that internal sustainability practices and external sustainability collaboration positively affected sustainability performance, whereas external sustainability collaboration had a positive influence on internal sustainability practices. There is a discussion of the implications of these findings for developing sustainability and improving sustainability performance in container terminals and ports.     

基于用户使用场景的轻型载货汽车货箱轻量化开发

载货汽车以高效运输为主要目的,随着治超、治限法规政策的实施,通过轻量化提高运输效率成为客户关注焦点.通过对轻型载货汽车客户使用场景和实际使用工况的研究,一方面结合市场对货箱的需求及产品现状,确定了铝合金框架和热塑性PP蜂窝的轻量化技术路线和减少质量50％以上、成本可控的目标,通过新材料、新工艺、新结构的研究应用,进行方...     

对新形势下铁路集装箱保价运输工作的思考

分析铁路集装箱保价运输的现状,从激烈的市场竞争、货主参与积极性不高、保价费率机动灵活性不够、保价激励机制不完善、个别单位和职工的重视程度不够等方面,说明目前铁路集装箱保价运输所面临的困难。针对铁路集装箱保价运输面临的新机遇,提出加快铁路集装箱保价运输发展的对策：全方位、多角度地进行保价营销宣传;实施保价大客户战略;完善保价运输激励机制;坚持对职工进行责任教育;做好足额保价工作,重点抓高附加值货物保价;提高保价理赔服务质量;提高保价人员业务素质。     

铁路特种箱空箱调度模型及求解算法

从4个方面分析铁路特种集装箱空箱调度进行优化设计的必要性,在特种箱资源供不应求的情况下,考虑运输能力、定点维修和时间限制等约束条件,构建特种箱空箱调度模型,运用遗传算法求解模型,并通过算例验证该模型的可行性,为实现物流网络内总体效益的最大化、减少排空费用的支出提供参考。     

基于SWOT分析法的南通港集装箱运输发展策略研究

文章分析了南通港集装箱运输的优势、弱势、机会和威胁，在此基础上，提出了南通港集装箱运输发展策略。     

广州铁路集装箱中心站道路配套工程——站场中路工程设计方案研究

以广州铁路集装箱中心站近期道路配套工程——站场中路为背景,从道路交叉节点交通量预测、平面设计、道路纵断面设计方案比选及横断面设计等方面综合论述了工程总体设计方案,此方案不仅可有力支撑铁路集装箱中心站的开发建设、满足中心站建成后的货运交通出入及集散需求、完善区域路网结构,而且可避免道路占用集装箱中心站用地,保证广州铁路集装箱中心站建设工期,为同类铁路集装箱中心站道路配套工程设计提供一定的参考价值.     

南通港口集装箱运输存在的问题及对策研究

集装箱运输量是一个港口现代化程度的重要标志。文章分析了南通港口集装箱运输存在的问题,提出了发展南通港集装箱运输的对策,以期对南通港口集装箱运输的发展带来一些启示。