Storage yard management for container transshipment terminals

Abstract

This thesis is dedicated to the storage yard management for container transshipment terminals by following the promising research trend, integrated optimization approach, to develop new optimization models and solution approaches. Focusing on the storage yard allocation problem (SAP), two directions of integrated optimization are explored: Part I-Integration of SAP and berth allocation problem in two transshipment terminal systems (single-terminal system and multi-terminal system), and Part II-Integration of SAP and yard crane deployment/scheduling problem at two planning levels (tactical level for entire storage yard, and operational level for a single yard block). The proposed comprehensive planning framework for storage yard management is able to support storage yard allocation decisions and other interdependent decisions for terminal operators with various planning areas: single yard block, single-terminal system and multi-terminal system, and also with various planning levels: strategic design, tactical planning and operational scheduling.