Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation

A special issue of Logistics (ISSN 2305-6290). This special issue belongs to the section "Maritime and Transport Logistics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2022) | Viewed by 42834

Special Issue Editors

Faculty of Transport Engineering, Department of Logistics and Transport Management, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės st. 27, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: logistics; optimization; transportation; transport engineering; supply chain; sustainability; human resources management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
1. Research Group on Logistics and Defense Technology Management, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, Šilo st. 5A, LT-10322 Vilnius, Lithuania
2. Business Management, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), Sauletekio al. 11, LT-10233 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: logistics; supply chain management; modelling; integrating processes; 3 PL
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Interests: road safety; accidents analysis; driver’s behavior; transportation logistics; mobility
Department of Transport Technology and Transport Economics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: transport economics; transport statistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maritime transport remains one of the key components of the supply chain, thereby ensuring the continued existence of international trade. It is very important to consider the fact that maritime transport is not only transportation from one point to another, but it also includes many components and elements, such as seaports, their activities, organization of their activities, use of vehicles to carry freight or passengers, their technical data or state-of-the-art technological solutions. It should also be noted that maritime transport, just like all the links of the supply chain, requires the application of innovative managerial and organizational solutions related to the optimization of activities, risk management and modelling of certain situations or tasks.

Therefore, this Special Issue “Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation” will aim to gather the best research papers relevant to this topic.

We invite you to contribute to this issue by submitting comprehensive reviews, case studies, or research articles. Papers selected for this Special Issue are subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

From 15 April 2021 to 31 December 2021, all submissions (once accepted after peer review) to Logistics will be published free of charge. To take advantage of this opportunity, please submit before the deadline.

Dr. Kristina Čižiūnienė
Prof. Dr. Ieva Meidute-Kavaliauskiene
Dr. Darja Topolšek
Prof. Dr. Adam Torok
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Logistics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • maritime transport
  • transport technologies
  • optimization
  • supply chain management
  • new approach in harbor management
  • risk management
  • modelling
  • challenges and problems in intermodal transport
  • new technologies
  • terminal safety and security
  • impact of COVID-19 on maritime transport
  • maritime transport labor market
  • human resources management in maritime transport
  • port facilities and infrastructure
  • port operation
  • logistics platforms
  • short sea shipping
  • transport corridors
  • passenger transportation
  • environmental pollution management

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 2658 KiB  
Article
Integrated Scheduling of Automated Yard Cranes and Automated Guided Vehicles with Limited Buffer Capacity of Dual-Trolley Quay Cranes in Automated Container Terminals
by Doaa Naeem, Amr Eltawil, Junichi Iijima and Mohamed Gheith
Logistics 2022, 6(4), 82; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics6040082 - 03 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2132
Abstract
Background: The key performance index for the container terminals is the vessel berthing time which is highly affected by the scheduling of the different handling equipment. Proper integrated scheduling of the handling equipment is crucial, especially in automated container terminals, where all [...] Read more.
Background: The key performance index for the container terminals is the vessel berthing time which is highly affected by the scheduling of the different handling equipment. Proper integrated scheduling of the handling equipment is crucial, especially in automated container terminals, where all the handling equipment is automated and must be coordinated to avoid interference. One of the most challenging problems both scholars and terminal operators face is introducing a proper scheduling plan for different equipment, considering the buffer capacity of dual-trolley quay cranes (QCs) and the limited storage locations of import containers. Methods: A mathematical model is proposed to integrate the scheduling of automated yard cranes and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), considering the limited buffer capacity beneath dual-trolley QCs and the storage allocation of import containers. Results: different instances were solved to evaluate the proposed model’s performance and investigate the impact of using dual-trolley QCs instead of single-trolley QCs, and the impact of using different buffer capacities. Conclusions: The results show that the model provides detailed scheduling and assigning plans for the YCs and AGVs besides allocating import containers. Additionally, the dual-trolley QCs can significantly decrease the completion time and increase AGVs’ utilization compared to the single-trolley QCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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27 pages, 6553 KiB  
Article
Design and Evaluation of an Integrated Autonomous Control Method for Automobile Terminals
by Michael Görges and Michael Freitag
Logistics 2022, 6(4), 73; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics6040073 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1964
Abstract
Background: Automobile terminals play a key role in global finished car supply chains. Due to their connecting character between manufacturers on the one side and distributers on the other side, they are continuously faced with volatile demand fluctuations and unforeseen dynamic events, [...] Read more.
Background: Automobile terminals play a key role in global finished car supply chains. Due to their connecting character between manufacturers on the one side and distributers on the other side, they are continuously faced with volatile demand fluctuations and unforeseen dynamic events, which cannot be handled adequately by existing planning methods. Autonomous control concepts already showed promising results coping with such dynamics. Methods: This paper describes the causes of dynamics and the terminal systems’ inherent shortcomings in dealing with such dynamics. On this basis, it derives terminal’s demand for novel planning approaches and presents a new integrated autonomous control method for automobile terminals. This novel autonomous control approach combines yard and berth assignments. This paper evaluates the performance of the new approach in a small comprehensive generic scenario. It compares classical planning approaches with the new autonomous control approach, by using a discrete event simulation model. Moreover, it analyses all relevant parameters of the new approach in a full factorial experiment design. In a second step this paper proves the applicability of the combined autonomous control approach to real-world terminals. It presents a simulation model of a real-world terminal and compares the new method with the existing terminal planning approaches. Results: This paper will show that the autonomous control approach is capable of outperforming existing centralized planning methods. In the generic and in the real-world case the new combined method leads to the best logistic target achievement. Conclusions: The new approach is highly suitable to automobile terminal systems and helps to overcome existing shortcomings. Especially in highly dynamic and complex settings, autonomous control performs better than conventional yard planning approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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21 pages, 1764 KiB  
Article
Impact of Second-Tier Container Port Facilities on Drayage Operation
by Samaneh Shiri, Nathan Huynh, Daniel Smith and Frank Harder
Logistics 2022, 6(4), 68; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics6040068 - 27 Sep 2022
Viewed by 2198
Abstract
Background: An increasing number of container and chassis staging, “dray-off”, drop yard, and depot facilities are being established outside of North American marine container terminals. The increased use of these “second-tier” facilities implies that there must be some capacity, delivery time, service, [...] Read more.
Background: An increasing number of container and chassis staging, “dray-off”, drop yard, and depot facilities are being established outside of North American marine container terminals. The increased use of these “second-tier” facilities implies that there must be some capacity, delivery time, service, or reliability benefit that offset the additional cost and complexity. Methods: This paper builds on the previously developed integrated drayage scheduling model to determine the impact of second-tier port facilities on drayage operation. It modifies the previously developed model by incorporating the following features: (1) trucks do not have to wait at customers’ locations during the import unloading and export loading operations; (2) drayage operations can include a drop yard (i.e., second-tier facility) for picking up or/and dropping off loaded containers outside the marine container terminal; and (3) a customer is allowed to request any of the following jobs: pick up an empty container, pick up a loaded container, drop off an empty container, and drop off a loaded container. Results: The results indicated that by moving the location of import pickup and export delivery from inside the marine container terminal to a location outside the terminal, the efficiency of drayage operation could increase. Additionally, when import pickup and export delivery take place inside the marine container terminal, the most efficient location for the chassis yard and empty container depot is inside the terminal. However, when the location of import pickup and/or export delivery are outside the terminal, the most efficient location for the chassis yard and empty container depot is also outside the terminal. Conclusions: The modeling results suggest that in addition to adding reserved capacity for marine terminals or as buffers to reconcile the preferred delivery times of importers, the second-tier facilities could also yield operational savings. However, the potential drayage efficiencies depend heavily on shorter queuing and turn time at these less-complex facilities compared to marine container terminals. Lastly, the modeling results suggest that the observed evolution of North American marine container terminals from self-contained entities into multi-tier systems is likely to continue to add additional capacities to accommodate container trade growth. This finding has important implications for regions and communities concerned over the impact of growing container ports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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25 pages, 2862 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Truck Appointment System as a Multi-Player Game
by Mohammad Torkjazi, Nathan Huynh and Ali Asadabadi
Logistics 2022, 6(3), 53; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics6030053 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Background: Random truck arrivals at maritime container terminals are one of the primary reasons for gate congestion. Gate congestion negatively affects the terminal’s and drayage firms’ productivity and the surrounding communities in terms of air pollution and noise. To alleviate gate congestion, more [...] Read more.
Background: Random truck arrivals at maritime container terminals are one of the primary reasons for gate congestion. Gate congestion negatively affects the terminal’s and drayage firms’ productivity and the surrounding communities in terms of air pollution and noise. To alleviate gate congestion, more and more terminals in the USA are utilizing a truck appointment system (TAS). Methods: This paper proposes a novel approach to modeling the truck appointment system problem. Unlike previous studies which largely treated this problem as a single-player game, this study explicitly models the interplay between the terminal and drayage firms with regard to appointments. A multi-player bi-level programming model is proposed, where the terminal functions as the leader at the upper-level and the drayage firms function as followers at the lower-level. The objective of the leader (the terminal) is to minimize the gate waiting cost of trucks by spreading out the truck arrivals, and the objective of the followers (drayage firms) is to minimize their own drayage cost. To make the model tractable, the bi-level model is transformed to a single-level problem by replacing the lower-level problem with its equivalent Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions and the model is solved by finding the Stackelberg equilibrium in one-shot simultaneous-moves among players. For comparison purposes, a single-player version of the TAS model is also developed. Results: Experimental results indicate that the proposed multi-player model yields a lower gate-waiting cost compared to the single-player model, and that it yields higher cost savings for the drayage firms as the number of appointments per truck increases. Moreover, the solution of the multi-player model is not dependent on the objective function coefficients, unlike the single player model. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a TAS is more effective if it considers how the assigned appointment slot affects a truck’s drayage cost. It is recommended that terminal operators and port authorities initiate conversations with their TAS providers about incorporating this element into their TAS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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29 pages, 9070 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Ports on the Eastern Baltic Sea Coast
by Jūratė Liebuvienė and Kristina Čižiūnienė
Logistics 2022, 6(1), 1; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics6010001 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4200
Abstract
Ports are an important part of the global and regional freight supply chain and transport network. Background: as port activities have a significant impact on the economic growth of these countries, it is necessary to constantly analyse and plan port activities, anticipate [...] Read more.
Ports are an important part of the global and regional freight supply chain and transport network. Background: as port activities have a significant impact on the economic growth of these countries, it is necessary to constantly analyse and plan port activities, anticipate market changes and improve the ability of ports to withstand the growing general competitive pressure. This article analyses studies conducted by researchers on the topic of seaports, thus, and find that there are no analyses comparing more than two ports. Methods: a comparative analysis of the ports on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea was conducted using the analysis of statistical data. Results: The Baltic Sea is surrounded by nine countries. Four countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia) have different coasts and different numbers of seaports. In this article, according to the selected parameters, 10 ports on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea are analyzed. Conclusions: The comparative analysis of ports on the eastern Baltic Sea revealed that Klaipeda port is the most diversified port in the eastern Baltic Sea region, given that it does not have any single most important type of cargo. The largest ports in terms of bulk cargo are in Tallinn, Riga and Ventspils. Primorsk is the largest port for liquid cargo and St. Petersburg handles the greatest volumes of cargo of a general type and while the distribution of cargo flows in the port of Visotsk is best correlated with the selected parameters, which allows us to state that the infrastructure of this port is used to the maximum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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24 pages, 6464 KiB  
Article
A Fuzzy Logic-Based Algorithm to Solve the Slot Planning Problem in Container Vessels
by Dalia Rashed, Amr Eltawil and Mohamed Gheith
Logistics 2021, 5(4), 67; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics5040067 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2390
Abstract
Background: The slot planning problem is a container allocation problem within a certain location on a vessel. It is considered a sub-problem of a successful decomposition approach for the container vessel stowage planning problem. This decision has a direct effect on container handling [...] Read more.
Background: The slot planning problem is a container allocation problem within a certain location on a vessel. It is considered a sub-problem of a successful decomposition approach for the container vessel stowage planning problem. This decision has a direct effect on container handling operations and the vessel berthing time, which are key indicators for the container terminal efficiency. Methods: In this paper, an approach combining a rule-based fuzzy logic algorithm with a rule-based search algorithm is developed to solve the slot planning problem. The rules in the proposed fuzzy logic algorithm aim at improving the objective function and minimizing/eliminating constraint violation. Results: The computational results of 236 slot planning instances illustrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Conclusions: The results show that the proposed approach is fast and can produce optimal or near-optimal solutions for a comprehensive industrial set of instances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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Review

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26 pages, 707 KiB  
Review
A Literature Review, Container Shipping Supply Chain: Planning Problems and Research Opportunities
by Dongping Song
Logistics 2021, 5(2), 41; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics5020041 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 25478
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the container shipping supply chain (CSSC) by taking a logistics perspective, covering all major value-adding segments in CSSC including freight logistics, container logistics, vessel logistics, port/terminal logistics, and inland transport logistics. The main planning problems and research [...] Read more.
This paper provides an overview of the container shipping supply chain (CSSC) by taking a logistics perspective, covering all major value-adding segments in CSSC including freight logistics, container logistics, vessel logistics, port/terminal logistics, and inland transport logistics. The main planning problems and research opportunities in each logistics segment are reviewed and discussed to promote further research. Moreover, the two most important challenges in CSSC, digitalization and decarbonization, are explained and discussed in detail. We raise awareness of the extreme fragmentation of CSSC that causes inefficient operations. A pathway to digitalize container shipping is proposed that requires the applications of digital technologies in various business processes across five logistics segments, and change in behaviors and relationships of stakeholders in the supply chain. We recognize that shipping decarbonization is likely to take diverse pathways with different fuel/energy systems for ships and ports. This gives rise to more research and application opportunities in the highly uncertain and complex CSSC environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization and Management in Maritime Transportation)
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