A queuing network model for the management of berth crane operations

This paper focuses on the optimal management of container discharge/loading at any given berthing point, within a real maritime terminal. Productivity maximization of expensive resources, as rail-mounted berth cranes, should be matched with the vessel requirement of minimizing waiting times with an adequate rate of service completion. To this practical problem, a queuing network model is proposed. Due to its complexity, discrete-event simulation appears as the most appropriate approach to model solution. To get a systematic representation of real constraints and policies of resource allocation and activity scheduling, an event graph (EG)-based methodology has been exploited in simulator design. Alternative policies issued by the operation manager can be inserted in a suitable panel-like view of the queuing network model and then compared by means of simulation, to evaluate the average measures for all berth cranes, such as throughput and completion time. Numerical experiments for simulator validation against real data are encouraging. Some decisions on both straddle carrier assignment to berth cranes and hold assignment and sequencing upon the same crane could be improved by the proposed manager-friendly simulation tool.     

基于作业链的泊位与岸桥协同调度研究

针对泊位与岸桥协同调度问题,引入"链式优化"思路,用作业链的方法分析集装箱装卸作业过程,首先将泊位计划作为开始链单元,采用资源节点优化策略进行分析,以最小化船舶在港总成本为目标建立模型;然后将岸桥卸船作业作为结束链单元,采用任务节点优化策略进行分析,以最小化岸桥最大完工时间为目标建立模型.考虑到作业链的整体性能,设计嵌...     

单向航道下连续泊位分配与船舶调度集成优化

为改善单向航道连续泊位港口的运营效率,研究泊位分配与船舶进出港调度集成优化.考虑潮汐、进出港时段交替与偏好泊位的影响,建立0-1整数线性规划模型,以船舶偏离偏好泊位成本和滞期成本为优化目标,确定各艘船舶的靠泊位置与进出港时刻.针对问题情境和其特有的约束条件,将原数学模型通过Dantzig-Wolfe分解方法分成主问题模...     

基于蚁群算法的泊位调度优化与仿真

在全球贸易经济聚焦在中国的同时,港口的吞吐能力成为目前港口业的主要矛盾。提高泊位这个环节的运作能力,减少船舶在港时间,增加港口的吞吐能力成为主要研究对象。本文采取仿真模型与优化算法相结合的研究方法,把泊位调度问题转化为旅行商问题,建立了一个泊位岸桥协调调度,通过蚁群算法建立数学模型,使船舶在港时间最短为目标建立函数,求得最佳调度方案。用ProModel建立船舶到港停泊及离港仿真模型。验证泊位调度优化的有效性,以便指导港口实际的泊位调度。     

Collaborative optimization for loading operation planning and vessel traffic scheduling in dry bulk ports

While loading operation planning and vessel traffic scheduling are still deemed as two independent operations in practice, it has been realised that their collaborative optimization and coordination can improve port operation efficiency. It is because that two separate operations often result in vessels spending more waiting time when passing through channels and/or longer loading time at berth, and hence seriously affect the productivity and efficiency of ports. It is even worse in the case where multi-harbor basins share a restricted channel. Therefore, this paper aims to address the collaborative optimization of loading operation planning and vessel traffic scheduling (COLOPVTS) and to generate the optimal traffic scheduling scheme and loading operation plan for each vessel synchronously. Through analyzing the process of vessels entering and leaving dry bulk export ports, a multi-objective mathematical model of COLOPVTS is proposed. Due to the complexity of the model, a heuristic algorithm combining the Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is applied to solve the model. Finally, the computational results on the practical data of Phase I and Phase II terminals in Huanghua coal port are analysed to verify the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm.     

An enriched model for the integrated berth allocation and quay crane assignment problem

Given the increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of container terminals, a lot of research efforts have been devoted to optimizing container terminal operations. Most papers deal with either the berth allocation problem (BAP) or the (quay) crane assignment problem (CAP). In the literature on the BAP, handling times are often simplified to be berth dependent or proportional to vessel size, so the CAP can be ignored when scheduling vessels. This is unsatisfactory for real-life applications because the handling time primarily depends on the number of containers to be handled and the number of cranes deployed. Only a limited number of papers deals with the combination of berth allocation and crane assignment. In these papers however, authors often have resorted to algorithmic simplifications that limit the practical use of the models. This paper presents a MILP model for the integrated BAP–CAP taking into account vessel priorities, preferred berthing locations and handling time considerations. The model is used in a hybrid heuristic solution procedure that is validated on real-life data illustrating the potential to support operational and tactical decision-making.     

Designing and constructing networks under uncertainty in the construction stage: Definition and exact algorithmic approach

The present work proposes a novel Network Optimization problem whose core is to combine both network design and network construction scheduling under uncertainty into a single two-stage robust optimization model. The first-stage decisions correspond to those of a classical network design problem, while the second-stage decisions correspond to those of a network construction scheduling problem (NCS) under uncertainty. The resulting problem, which we will refer to as the Two-Stage Robust Network Design and Construction Problem (2SRNDC), aims at providing a modeling framework in which the design decision not only depends on the design costs (e.g., distances) but also on the corresponding construction plan (e.g., time to provide service to costumers). We provide motivations, mixed integer programming formulations, and an exact algorithm for the 2SRNDC. Experimental results on a large set of instances show the effectiveness of the model in providing robust solutions, and the capability of the proposed algorithm to provide good solutions in reasonable running times.     

Quay crane and yard truck dual-cycle scheduling with mixed storage strategy

In order to enhance the efficiency of port operations, the scheduling problem of the quay cranes and yard trucks is crucial. Conventional port operation mode lacks optimization research on efficiency of port handling operation, yard truck scheduling, and container storage location. To make quay crane operations and horizontal transportation more efficient, this study uses a dual-cycle strategy to focus on a quay crane and yard truck scheduling problem in conjunction with a mixed storage strategy. A dispatching plan for yard trucks is considered, as well as the storage location of inbound containers. Based on the above factors, a mixed-integer programming model is formulated to minimize vessels’ berth time for completing all tasks. The proposed model is solved using a particle swarm optimization-based algorithm. Validation of the proposed model and algorithm is conducted through numerical experiments. Additionally, some managerial implications which may be potentially useful for port operators are obtained.     

Coordinated optimized scheduling of locks and transshipment in inland waterway transportation using binary NSGA‐II

Traffic congestion in inland waterways caused by insufficient throughput capacity of locks has become a compelling problem in developed inland shipping countries. In order to avoid excessive time wasted in waiting for lock service, it is suggested that some types of cargoes should be unloaded at the quays and transported by road/train to their destinations, which is called water–land transshipment. By this means, the ships are divided into two groups that either pass the lock or are transshipped at the quays, engendering the lock and water–land transshipment co‐scheduling (LWTC) problem. This paper focuses on the LWTC, where the roll‐on roll‐off ships, passenger ships, and general cargo ships that can be transshipped and other ships that can only pass the lock are considered in a lock‐quay co‐scheduling system. The LWTC problem is decomposed into an outer‐layer main 0‐1 optimization problem and two inner‐layer subproblems: lock scheduling and berth allocation. A multiobjective optimization model is proposed for the LWTC problem based on its two‐layer structure. To solve the LWTC problem, a hybrid heuristic method is proposed, where a modified binary nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II is proposed to solve the main problem, and the two subproblems are solved by specific heuristics. The proposed model and hybrid method are tested on instances extracted from historical data of traffic at Three Gorges Dam, the results of which demonstrate the feasibility of the model and the superiority of the proposed hybrid heuristic method over other comparisons.     

基于模糊偏好的多目标成像卫星调度方法研究

不确定条件下的成像卫星调度问题是一个多目标优化问题。借鉴连续函数的鲁棒性优化思想,提出了一种基于邻域的鲁棒性指标,考虑多种约束条件,建立了多目标成像卫星调度模型。在考虑目标间偏好的情况下,提出了一种基于模糊偏好的多目标遗传算法。实例研究表明,该模型和算法能够有效地解决不确定条件下的成像卫星调度问题。     

潮汐影响下泊位和岸桥双目标联合调度仿真

针对集装箱船舶大型化导致的港口航道现有水深无法满足大型船舶安全吃水深度,需要借助潮水上涨进出航道的现状,研究了潮汐影响下连续型泊位和动态岸桥联合调度问题。建立了以最小化船舶周转时间和岸桥在船舶间移动次数的双目标混合整数规划模型。基于问题特点,设计了Epsilon约束精确算法和带精英策略的快速非支配排序遗传算法(NSGA-Ⅱ)分别求解小规模和大规模算例的Pareto最优解集,所得结果验证了模型和算法的正确性与有效性。通过潮汐周期灵敏度分析评估了潮汐周期长度对岸桥工作效率和港口服务质量的影响。仿真结果表明,建立的优化模型能够帮助港口企业有效降低潮汐对生产作业的影响,同时提供一组高效的Pareto最优泊位岸桥调度方案提高工作效率和经济效益。     

Vessel routing and scheduling under uncertainty in the liquefied natural gas business

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas transformed into liquid state for the purpose of transportation mainly by specially built LNG vessels. This paper considers a real-life LNG ship routing and scheduling problem where a producer is responsible for transportation from production site to customers all over the world. The aim is to create routes and schedules for the vessel fleet that are more robust with respect to uncertainty such as in sailing times due to changing weather conditions. A solution method and several robustness strategies are proposed and tested on instances with time horizons of 3–12 months. The resulting solutions are evaluated using a simulation model with a recourse optimization procedure. The results show that there is a significant improvement potential by adding the proposed robustness approaches.     

A quay crane dynamic scheduling problem by hybrid evolutionary algorithm for berth allocation planning

A considerable growth in worldwide container transportation needs essential optimization of terminal operations. An operation schedule for berth and quay cranes can significantly affect turnaround time of ships, which is an important objective of all schedules in a port. This paper addresses the problem of determining the berthing position and time of each ship as well as the number of quay cranes assigned to each ship. The objective of the problem is to minimize the sum of the handling time, waiting time and the delay time for every ship. We introduce a formulation for the simultaneous berth and quay crane scheduling problem. Next, we combine genetic algorithm with heuristic to find an approximate solution for the problem. Computational experiments show that the proposed approaches are applicable to solve this difficult but essential terminal operation problem.     

桥吊可动态分配的连续泊位分配问题算法

研究在允许桥吊动态分配的情况下集装箱码头的连续泊位动态分配问题,并建立以船舶在港时间最小为目标的动态泊位分配模型;然后基于兄弟-儿子方法对船舶的位置进行调整以规划桥吊使桥吊不交叉。在相同算例下,比现有方法得到的船舶在港时间更少,从而验证了模型及算法的有效性。     

A robust scheduling method based on a multi-objective immune algorithm

A robust scheduling method is proposed to solve uncertain scheduling problems. An uncertain scheduling problem is modeled by a set of workflow models, and then a scheduling scheme (solution) of the problem can be evaluated by workflow simulations executed with the workflow models in the set. A multi-objective immune algorithm is presented to find Pareto optimal robust scheduling schemes that have good performance for each model in the set. The two optimization objectives for scheduling schemes are the indices of the optimality and robustness of the scheduling results. An antibody represents a resource allocation scheme, and the methods of antibody coding and decoding are designed to deal with resource conflicts during workflow simulations. Experimental tests show that the proposed method can generate a robust scheduling scheme that is insensitive to uncertain scheduling environments.     

Simulation-based investment planning for Humen Port

This paper addresses an investment planning problem for a container terminal in Humen Port using simulation with Arena software. We propose a simulation model considering various types of container ships and cranes, flexible berth allocation and dynamic crane scheduling. We carry out simulation experiments in order to identify a parameter setting that can minimize the total investment cost while maintaining a required service level. The experiment results show that the proposed economic investment plan can reduce the cost compared with the current investment plan.     

A new continuous berth allocation and quay crane assignment model in container terminal

Over the past decades, Chinese ports throughput grew rapidly, and more and more concerns were shown on the operational efficiency and effectiveness. Many studies have been made for scheduling berth and quay cranes, which are the critical resources in container terminals. In this paper, a two-phase model for berth allocation and quay crane assignment is proposed. In the first phase, according to the relationships of time and space between vessels, a new continuous berth allocation model is established, in which not only the common restricts but the coverage area of quay crane are considered. Then in the quay crane assignment phase, a multi-objective programming model is proposed, in which the first objective is to minimize the range of maximum and minimum quay cranes used for resources saving, and the second one is to minimize the movements of quay cranes so as to improve the efficiency. A particle swarm optimization algorithm for BAP was developed. The results of numerical experiments show that the proposed approach can improve the essential operations in container terminal.     

A bi-objective model for robust berth allocation scheduling

Berth allocation is an important port operation problem for container terminals. This paper studies how to develop a robust schedule for berth allocation that incorporates a degree of anticipation of uncertainty (e.g., vessels’ arrival time and operation time) during the schedule’s execution. This study proposes a bi-objective optimization model for minimizing cost and maximizing robustness of schedules. A heuristic is also developed for solving the bi-objective model in large-scale problem cases. Numerical experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed model and method. Managerial implications are also discussed.     

带约束的清洁排班问题模型及其求解

保洁服务公司的清洁任务往往具有不同级别、不同时长和不同周期等特点,缺乏通用清洁排班问题模型,现阶段主要依赖人工排班方案,存在耗时费力且排班质量不稳定等问题.因此提出了属于NP难问题的带约束的清洁排班问题的数学模型,并使用模拟退火算法(SA)、蜂群算法(BCO)、蚁群算法(ACO)和粒子群优化算法(PSO)对该模型进行求...     

不确定环境下集装箱码头泊位与岸桥联合调度

在集装箱码头操作系统中,有效的泊位岸桥调度计划有助于提高码头的运营效率和客户满意度。针对船舶到港时间和装卸作业时间随机的泊位岸桥联合调度问题,综合考虑了连续泊位下船舶偏离偏好泊位产生的惩罚时间,并通过添加延缓时间的方法来吸收不确定性因素带来的影响。为了体现调度计划的鲁棒性,将延缓时间添加在目标函数中,建立了以船舶在港总时间、偏离偏好泊位的惩罚时间、客户满意度和延缓时间之和最小化为目标的混合整数规划模型,提出一种自改变遗传算法和启发式靠泊相结合的改进遗传算法对模型进行求解;通过算例分析,证明了提出的改进遗传算法在计算不确定环境下的泊位岸桥联合调度问题的有效性。