Assessing the Role of Mobile Terminals to Reduce Container Barge Inefficiency in Seaports

Abstract

This study examines how to eliminate the inefficiencies in inland waterborne transport (IWT) by reducing sailing and waiting times at ports without expensive modifications to terminal infrastructures. A new concept known as the Modular Mobile Terminals (MMTs) is examined to achieve this and its potential feasibility in seaports. In doing this, the present paper develops time savings optimization and cost feasibility models that evaluate regions that would be suitable to be linked based on the overall gains by using the MMTs.Results revealed that regions with low load factors would have a positive business case for using the MMTs. The small call sizes transported from these regions can be consolidated at the MMTs and transferred in high volume to dedicated deepsea terminals. This reduces the port time for the barges involved while ensuring that the barges are handled quicker and better.