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Simulation modelling in ports and container terminals: literature overview and analysis by research field, application area and tool

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Abstract

The simulation modelling of shore- and sea-side port operations constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for effective project planning in port development, as the influence of numerous often interactive parameters has to be addressed at an early stage to account for the optimum supply of port facilities and services to current and future demand. This paper presents a detailed review of the available research literature on the application of simulation models in port development, through extensive reference to published journal papers from the onset of the relevant simulation modelling and through the course of the past 54 years (1961–2015). With focus on container terminals, this review aims at analysing the use of port related simulation models and ultimately at assessing their contribution into building the research knowledge necessary to promote sustainable ship-port interfaces and freight transport chains. It was found that over the past 50 years the use of simulation models has been increasingly favoured and instrumental in the development of ports and more specifically of container terminals. Most of the research literature addresses operational issues, accounting for its highest concentration and coherence in the research field of operations research, although the need to utilise the wide-ranging capabilities of simulation modelling in order to offer integrated solutions is recently promoting the dissemination of the relevant literature through sector-specific (i.e. transport and maritime) research fields. Finally, the observed tendency to employ simulation tools which offer the most realistic results reflects the research effort to ensure that simulation modelling offers tangible solutions to the maritime and transport industry.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the four anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions which have been useful in improving the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maritime Faculty, University of Montenegro, Kotor, Montenegro

    Branislav Dragović

  2. Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece

    Ernestos Tzannatos

  3. Department of International Logistics, Tong Myong University, Busan, South Korea

    Nam Kuy Park

Authors
  1. Branislav Dragović
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  2. Ernestos Tzannatos
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  3. Nam Kuy Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Branislav Dragović.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 Publications reviewed—structured by application areas and subareas with main features
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Table 2 List of acronyms and abbreviations
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Dragović, B., Tzannatos, E. & Park, N.K. Simulation modelling in ports and container terminals: literature overview and analysis by research field, application area and tool. Flex Serv Manuf J 29, 4–34 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10696-016-9239-5

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