Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An optimization model for storage yard management in transshipment hubs

  • Regular article
  • Published:
OR Spectrum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper studies a yard storage allocation problem in a transshipment hub where there is a great number of loading and unloading activities. The primary challenge is to efficiently shift containers between the vessels and the storage area so that reshuffling and traffic congestion is minimized. In particular, to reduce reshuffling, a consignment strategy is used. This strategy groups unloaded containers according to their destination vessel. To reduce traffic congestion, a new workload balancing protocol is proposed. A mixed integer-programming model is then formulated to determine the minimum number of yard cranes to deploy and the location where unloaded containers should be stored. The model is solved using CPLEX. Due to the size and complexity of this model two heuristics are also developed. The first is a sequential method while the second is a column generation method. A bound is developed that allows the quality of the solution to be judged. Lastly, a numerical investigation is provided and demonstrates that the algorithms perform adequately on most cases considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chen CS, Lee SM, Shen QS (1995) An analytical model for the container loading problem. Eur J Oper Res 80(1):68–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CY, Chao SL, Hsieh TW (2000) A time-space network model for the space resource allocation problem in container marine transportation. Paper presented at the 17th international symposium on mathematical programming, 2000, Atlanta, USA

  • Chen T (1999) Yard operations in the container terminal—a study in the “unproductive moves”. Marit Policy Manage 26(1):27–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung RK, Chen CY (1998) A two-stage stochastic network model and solution methods for the dynamic empty container allocation problem. Transp Sci 32(2):142–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung YG, Randhawa SU, Mcdowell ED (1988) A simulation analysis for a transtainer-based container handling facility. Comput Ind Eng 14(2):113–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crainic TG, Gendreau M, Dejax P (1993) Dynamic and stochastic models for the allocation of empty containers. Oper Res 41:102–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies AP, Bischoff EE (1999) Weight distribution considerations in container loading. Eur J Oper Res 114: 509–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH (1997) Evaluation of the number of reshuffles in storage yards. Comput Ind Eng 32(4):701–711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH, Bae JW (1998) Re-marshaling export containers in port container terminals. Comput Ind Eng 35:655–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH, Kim HB (1999) Segregating space allocation models for container inventories in port container terminals. Int J Prod Econ 59:415–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH, Park KT (2003) A note on a dynamic space-allocation method for outbound containers. Eur J Oper Res 148(1):92–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH, Park YM, Ryu KR (2000) Deriving decision rules to locate export containers in storage yards. Eur J Oper Res 124:89–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan NK (1998) The future of maritime facility designs and operations. In: Simulation Conference 1998, pp 1223–1227

  • Scheithauer G (1999) LP-based bounds for the container and multi-container loading problem. Int Trans Oper Res 6(2):199–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen WS, Khoong CM (1995) A DSS for empty container distribution planning. Decis Support Syst 15:75–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taleb-Ibrahimi M, De Castilho B, Daganzo CF (1993) Storage space vs handling work in container terminals. Transp Res B 27:13–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vis IFA, De Koster R (2003) Transshipment of containers at a container terminal: an overview. Eur J Oper Res 147(1):1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yun WY, Choi YS (1999) A simulation model for container-terminal operation analysis using an object-oriented approach. Int J Prod Econ 59(1–3):221–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Liu J, Wan Y-w, Murty KG, Linn RJ (2003) Storage space allocation in container terminals. Transp Res B 37:883–903

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge, 119260, Singapore, Singapore

    Loo Hay Lee, Ek Peng Chew, Kok Choon Tan & Yongbin Han

Authors
  1. Loo Hay Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ek Peng Chew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kok Choon Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yongbin Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongbin Han.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, L.H., Chew, E.P., Tan, K.C. et al. An optimization model for storage yard management in transshipment hubs. OR Spectrum 28, 539–561 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-006-0045-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-006-0045-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation