A Framework for Integrated Berth Allocation and Crane Operations Planning in Seaport Container Terminals

In seaport container terminals, berth allocation, quay crane assignment, and quay crane scheduling problems are solved sequentially. However, this sequential way of planning the seaside operations often hinders obtaining a sufficient resource utilization and service quality at low cost. This paper provides a framework for aligning all decisions that have to be made in an integrative manner. The framework is laid down in three phases. Phase I estimates productivity rates for the cranes from the vessels' stowage plans. The productivity rates are used in Phase II to make berthing decisions and to assign crane capacity to vessels. Phase III determines detailed crane schedules and aligns the decisions made. The framework supports using well-known heuristics for solving the contained subproblems. Computational tests reveal that the integrated planning is computationally tractable for problem scenarios of realistic size. It is also demonstrated that the new approach balances the cost drivers of a terminal much better than the conventional way of operations planning does and that it enables significant cost reductions.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.1120.0419
• Record URL:
  http://transci.journal.informs.org/content/47/2/131.abstract
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1767714
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstracts reprinted with permission of INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, http://www.informs.org).
• Authors:
  • Meisel, Frank
  • Bierwirth, Christian
• Publication Date: 2013-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 131-147
• Serial:
  • Transportation Science
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
  • ISSN: 0041-1655
  • Serial URL: http://transci.journal.informs.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Berth utilization; Construction scheduling; Container terminals; Cranes; Decision making; Port operations; Seaports
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01482832
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 16 2013 11:34AM