Design and Evaluation of Multi-storey Lifting Frame Bridge Based Automated Container Terminal Handling System

Abstract

This paper aims to propose an innovated design of automated container terminal (ACT) handling system, which can help the port to enhance the handling performance of the entire terminal. Different from conventional ACTs that use trucks or automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to transport containers in the terminal, the new handling system takes advantages of multi-storey lifting frame bridge (MLFB), elevators, automated lifting vehicles (ALVs), frame trolleys (FTs) and reach stackers(RSs). The MLFB-based ACT handling system is composed of several subsystems, which have respective lifting frame bridges. Furthermore, an explorative study has been applied to analyze the transportation efficiency within the handling system using a queuing theory model. The results represent significant improvements over that of conventional handling systems.