Multimodal Transport Operations Research Articles

Logistics Distribution Centers in Multimodal Transport Operations

Logistics Distribution Centers in Multimodal Transport Operations

Challenges To The Multimodal Transport Networks Based On Sustainable Growth In The Volume Of Containerized Cargoes

Globalization is a significant factor for optimization of the existing transport chains. It is a major power for sustainable development of containerized transport, the relevant transport infrastructure and terminal equipment. The development of seaports and inland waterway connections became important part in global supply chain. The transportation models which are using multimodal transport service consist from maritime, port and hinterland parts. Choosing the appropriate strategy allows the shipping companies to reduce the transport cost and helps them to be more competitive on the cargo market. This article aims to identify the challenges and prospects for development of multimodal transport operations with containerized cargoes using of system approach to the each subsystems of the multimodal transport chain. To achieve the scope of the paper, research has been done on the global effects that big shipping companies contribute to the final transport cost; to the organization in container terminals and further influence on the local terminal operators; to the improvement of port infrastructure, including the number of offered services and implementation of innovations for increasing terminal efficiency. As a result, the main parameters for evaluation of the importance of one container terminal in the supply chain are defined.

PORT DEVELOPMENT: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PORT TRAFFIC OF GUJARAT AND ITS HINTERLAND

The ports are nodal points that link the open economy with the global world and consequently port development and economic development are closely related. With the developments in multimodal transport and port operations, the benefit of ports percolates even in non coastal areas in far hinterland. In 1990’s, India initiated economic reforms emphasizing on international trade and since then, its international trade has increased remarkably and almost 90% of India’s international merchandise trade is handled by ports. In line with the initiatives of port development in India, Gujarat state has announced a separate port policy for port development as it has vast hinterland of developing northern states of India generating large volume of cargo for ports of Gujarat. This paper attempts to analyse the cargo traffic at ports of Gujarat in relation to the output (GSDP) of selected 8 states of India in its hinterland. Bi-variate Log Log Regression Model is applied to determine the relationship between GSDP of 8 hinterland states and the volume of cargo traffic handled by ports in Gujarat using the GSDP and Port Traffic data from 2011-2019. It is observed that increase in output in the hinterland states leads to significant increase in cargo traffic at ports of Gujarat depicting that 1 % increase in GSDP of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh lead to on an average 0.39 % to 0.55 % of increase in cargo traffic at ports of Gujarat which implies that cargo traffic at ports of Gujarat is highly affected by output in its hinterland states in addition to the output of Gujarat..

Carbon Mitigation Strategies of Port Selection and Multimodal Transport Operations—A Case Study of Northeast China

In the last few decades, the progression of climate change has made people aware of the need to reduce CO2 emissions. In this study, the effect of this awareness on container transport in Northeast China is used as an empirical case study. Firstly, we propose that the freight demand index, calculated by the entropy weight TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) method, reflects the degree of container demand in destination cities. Then, we describe five scenarios against the background of China’s container development plan and use them to evaluate the cost and carbon emissions of container rerouting. The overall objective of the study is to assess the effects of changes in port selection on the formation of new routes and multimodal transport. The results show that carbon taxes do not significantly affect multimodal transport networks, and the impact of loading and unloading costs on the total cost is far greater than that of corresponding carbon emissions. Despite the railway transportation capacity of Dalian Port, the results show that Yingkou Port and Dandong Port will expand by 227.8% and 191.4% over 2017, respectively. Therefore, Liaoning Port Group needs to reposition its different ports.

UK supply chain carbon mitigation strategies using alternative ports and multimodal freight transport operations

In the last few decades, the building evidence that CO2e emissions lead to climate change has pointed to a need to reduce CO2e emissions. This research uses five scenarios in the context of UK import trade to assess total CO2e emissions and costs of import re-routing containers. The overall objective is to assess possible carbon mitigation strategies for UK supply chains by using a combination of alternative ports and revised multimodal strategies. The model adopted includes three elements: port expansion, container handling and freight transport. The alternative scenarios explore different settings modal shift and short sea shipping.

Intelligent Traceability System of Containerized Goods

In recent year, many countries across in the world have made traceability a compulsory procedure in the Supply Chain. The Supply Chain is distributed collaborative environments involves the acquisition and use of extensive informational and physical flows. The flows management seems a complex task for the actors of the multimodal transport chain which the transport is the major driver in a Supply Chain. The literature reviews throws light on the traceability in the Supply Chain Management (SCM) shows the lack of interoperability and flexibility in data management systems hinders the work of traceability. And it introduces the importance and complexity of multimodal transport operations. To ensure effective traceability all along this chain, we relied on the agent paradigm and the ontology which facilitate the integration of goods data in order to exploit and reuse. Indeed, to ensure communication and interoperability of these data we relied on Multi-Agent Systems, due to their characteristics of autonomy, sociability and responsiveness that are generally associated. The Multi-Agent Systems can build flexible systems whose behaviors are complex and complicated due to the combination of different types of agents. With a focus on the importance of the concept of the traceability, the objective of this work is to propose an intelligent system for the traceability of containerized goods in the context of multimodal transport: Intelligent Traceability System of Containerized Goods (i-TSCG).

Use of ITS Technologies for Multimodal Transport Operations – River Information Services (RIS) Transport Logistics Services

Interoperable and interconnected solutions for the next generation of multimodal transport management and information systems are the ultimate objectives of both the European transport logistics operators and of the European Commission. In the field of Inland Navigation River Information Services (RIS) is the corresponding Intelligent Transport System (ITS) primarily addressing administrative services. However, traffic information can also generate benefits for commercial stakeholders of the European transport and logistics sector by improving transport planning and management processes along multimodal transport chains.

Intelligent transport systems in multimodal logistics: A case of role and contribution through wireless vehicular networks in a sea port location

The growing complexity of logistics and its importance as a major economic activity has raised the profile of information and communication technology (ICT) as means to improve the levels of visibility, responsiveness and efficiency in supply chains relying in multimodal transport operations. With the use of wireless vehicular networks, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have the potential to shape the future of multimodal logistics. In the absence of sophisticated ICT tools, the potential role and contribution of ITS and in particular wireless vehicular networks play in logistics is investigated in a multimodal case of a port terminal handling bulk material transported by sea, which is unloaded into haulage vehicles. Event flow mapping and network modelling analysis are used to determine the feasibility of ITS to support real-time data traffic related to the exchange of messages, which are representative of the flow of events taking place in multimodal logistics and which can be associated to high-impact capabilities with economic repercussions such as track and trace.

No Need for Speed in Short Sea Shipping

The European Community has an established policy of encouraging sustainable transport, such as multimodal transport operations involving road, rail, inland waterway and short sea shipping (SSS). To stimulate modal-shift to short sea shipping, the European Union is seeking for extra policy actions. One of the research topics in the 5th Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP5) is the potential benefits in lead-time of deploying high-speed vessels (HSV) in short sea shipping freight transport. This paper discusses the policy recommendations of the FP5 project ‘SPIN-HSV’. It analyses the European SSS freight market, studies the need for deploying high-speed vessels to speed up SSS transport along the supply chain, and suggests the main topics of E.U. policy in the near future. We conclude that Community policy should not focus on promoting HSV for short sea freight transport. If there is a need for speed in SSS, market parties will seek HSV solutions by themselves. Community policy should primarily focus on promoting SSS in general in order to achieve further growth in SSS transport volumes.

Eastern/Western European shipping companies and multimodal transport operations

The purpose of this article is to discuss the current developments in multimodal cargo flows in North European freight transports from Eastern and Western European shipping companies’ point of view. Four types of options were identified for shipping companies in multimodal transport operations, namely: (i) the full service operator option, (ii) the feeder operator option in container trades, (iii) the ro-ro operator option, and (iv) the ferry operator option. Option (i) requires a global transport network together with efficient information handling capabilities. This option can be reached by a limited number of mega-carriers. The scope of investment and know-how in this option is such that Eastern European operators are unlikely to achieve this level. In (ii), fleets from (or registered in) the former socialist countries have an advantage as low cost operators, provided that the quality of the operation conforms to principals’ requirements. However, the supply side in the intra-European container feeder trades seems to be quite saturated, and new market shares will be very difficult to acquire in the 1990s. In ro-ro shortsea trades the major freight transport operators are well integrated into either freight forwarder driven arrangements (Sweden, Germany), or into major shippers (Finland). As providers of port-to-port transports for road-based cargoes, ferry operators continue to play an important part in international transports. However, the major incentive (and revenue) for passenger/car ferry operations is usually derived from consumers’ vacational or travelling needs. Along with the ongoing transition process and a higher level of economic stability that is hopefully achieved in these countries, mergers and acquisitions by Western partners are likely to follow.

Possible effects of multimodal transport operations (MTO) in some developing countries

The authors speculate on the effects of multimodal transport operations (MTO) in African countries where the technologies selected for shipping are subject to change. There is also a brief examination of the effects of MTO systems on African economies.

Multimodal Transport Operations in international cargo movement: Implications for transport policies and development in tropical Africa

The system of Multimodal Transport Operations (MTO) is aimed at facilitating international movement of traffic on a door-to-door basis. Such a system involves the integration of the marine, port and inland transport sectors of trading partners. The existing transportation systems in tropical Africa do not meet the standards required for such operations. This paper examines the deficiencies in the transport systems and analyses the implications of introducing the MTO system on transport policies, investment, insurance matters and port consolidation in tropical Africa.