Finding the Number of Yard Cranes Needed to Achieve Desired Truck Turn Time at Marine Container Terminals

Abstract

Because of environmental concerns, terminals are increasingly looking to reduce their truck turn time. Terminals are also looking to reduce truck turn time so that they can lower the inland transportation cost of shipping a container. For terminals that stack their containers, the solution may seem obvious: add more yard cranes. However, the high cost of those cranes often prohibits terminals from freely buying more. Another reason terminals are reluctant to add more yard cranes is that there is no clear understanding of how yard cranes affect truck turn time. A study introduces a simulation model for the analysis of truck turn time with respect to crane availability and deployment. This effort is accomplished by modeling the precise movements of trucks and yard cranes. The developed model uses the Barbours Cut Container Terminal of the Port of Houston Authority as a test bed to demonstrate how it can be applied to find the number of yard cranes needed to achieve a desired truck turn time. Other uses of the model include testing the crane deployment methodology, examining the effect of crane failure, and analyzing the impact of an appointment system.