A Stochastic Programming Optimization Model of Container Shipping of Sea-Carriage

Abstract

The paper dose research about the optimization of container shipping of sea carriage for meeting the goods transport requirement by use of stochastic programming. Both laden and empty containers are combined into a system. In particular, the effect of special laden container shipping capacity on the shipping plan is investigated. In the model, the objective function is to maximize the total profit of container shipping. The profit caused by laden container shipping minus the cost caused by both laden and empty container shipping equal to the total profit. The constraints to the model include meeting the need of both laden and empty containers, shipping limit to both common and special laden containers, the number of empty container supported. The number of empty containers is stochastic and the model is transmitted to an integer programming. Lingo9.0 is used to solve the model and shipping methods in varied parameters are shown by simulation. The aim of the paper is to provide a reasonable plan of container shipping of sea-carriage, so the container shipping cost of a shipping company can be reduced and the its profit made by container shipping are maximized.