Cargo prioritization and terminal allocation problem for inland waterway disruptions

Abstract

To mitigate inland waterway disruption impacts, we introduce the cargo prioritization and terminal allocation problem (CPTAP) to minimize the total value loss of disrupted barge cargoes. CPTAP is formulated as a nonlinear binary integer program, and problems of realistic size can be efficiently and effectively solved with a genetic algorithm approach. The final solution identifies an accessible alternative terminal for each disrupted barge and the prioritized offloading turn that each barge takes at its assigned terminal. Implementation of CPTAP results in reduced cargo value loss and response time when compared with a naive minimize distance approach.