Optimizing configuration and scheduling of double 40 ft dual-trolley quay cranes and AGVs for improving container terminal services

Abstract

Meeting the individual needs of customers will increase the competitiveness of container terminals. This paper optimizes the configuration and scheduling of double 40 ft dual-trolley quay cranes (QCs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to improve the service of a container terminal. A two-stage biobjective mixed integer programming model with the objectives of maximizing customer satisfaction, minimizing the ineffective time of AGVs, and minimizing the delay time of QCs is proposed. For the proposed model, the piecewise function in the first stage is linearized by adding constraints of special ordered sets, and the GUROBI software is used to solve it. Then, an improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-Ⅲ is applied that aims to efficiently solve the second-stage model. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the effectiveness of models and algorithms. The results demonstrate the rationality and validity of the method, which selects the configuration and scheduling scheme based on customer satisfaction. • The satisfaction of shipowner and cargo owners are analyzed. • The handling equipment are double 40 ft dual-trolley quay cranes and AGV. • A two-stage bi-objective mixed integer programming model is proposed. • The capacity constraints of transport platform and buffer bracket are considered. • The improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithmⅡ is used to solve the model.