Abstract
In this study, we consider a real-life export container storage problem at an important container terminal in the Port of Izmir, Turkey. Currently, the container storage decisions at the port are taken by operators manually, which leads to continuous unnecessary re-handling movements of the containers. High transportation costs, waste of time, and inefficient capacity utilization in the container storage area are the consequences of non-optimal decisions. The main goal of this study is to minimize the transportation costs and the number of re-handling moves while storing the export containers at the terminal yard. We formulate the problem in two stages. While the first stage assigns the containers of the same vessel to a group of yard bays via an optimization model, the second stage decides on the exact location of each container with the help of an efficient heuristic approach. The experimental results with real data are presented and discussed.
Highlights
Containerized sea-freight transportation is a favoured mode of transportation, as using containers reduces the amount of product packaging and damage, and a container is a standardized load unit that is suitable for road and rail transportation
While the first stage assigns the containers of the same vessel to a group of yard bays via an optimization model, the second stage decides on the exact location of each container with the help of an efficient heuristic approach
The transhipment can be between ships and land vehicles, such as trains or trucks, in which case the terminal is described as a maritime terminal
Summary
Containerized sea-freight transportation is a favoured mode of transportation, as using containers reduces the amount of product packaging and damage, and a container is a standardized load unit that is suitable for road and rail transportation. This mode of transportation has escalated considerably over the last decades. One of the most important processes of a container terminal, which is the main focus of this study, is the transfer and storage of containers in the terminal yard The aim of these operations is to maximize the operational productivity by efficiently utilizing available ground space
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