Aligning the operations of barges and terminals through distributed planning

In this thesis we consider the barge handling problem, which is about the alignment of barge and terminal operations in a port. Complicating factor in tackling this problem is that centralized planning is not acceptable for the parties concerned. \ud \ud In our research we explore an alternative: distributed planning. We develop a Multi-Agent system (MAS) consisting of barge operator agents and terminal operator agents. We propose a specific interaction protocol based on service-time profiles through which barge and terminal operators are able to improve their planning. \ud \ud To evaluate the performance of our MAS we conduct simulation studies. In this way we get insight in the performance of the system as a whole as the result of the interactions of barge and terminal operators. Additionally, we compare the performance with an off-line benchmark, resembling central coordination.\ud \ud Our findings are promising. Our interaction protocol supports an efficient negotiation between barge and terminal operators. Our MAS allows for real-time alignment of barge and terminal operations such that the overall system performance is well within the range of central planning performance. Moreover, our MAS suppresses the propagation of disruptions, making the operations of barges and terminals more reliable.\ud \ud Experiences with the management game that we designed to explain our solution to practitioners, are encouraging and indicate that our MAS may be acceptable for barge and terminal operators and implementable in practice.\ud \ud Throughout the thesis we took the Port of Rotterdam as our source of inspiration, although our model is applicable to general multi-terminal, multi-barge settings. Generally we conclude that our Multi-Agent system is a promising solution for the barge handling problem and can result in a significant improvement in practice

Agent Technology supports Inter-Organizational Planning in the Port

The Port of Rotterdam is a key container transshipment hub for Europe. Inland container shipping is important to connect the hinterland (40% market share). Barges visit several terminals per round-trip through the Port, thus requiring a proper planning support – to avoid planning problems such as double-bookings. A pilot version of an inter-organizational system has been build, titled APPROACH. This paper describes an industry workshop where a gamesetting was used to evaluate the current manual planning practices with the APPROACH outcome – and delivered interesting findings; both for actual implementation of the system as well as it unveiled issues for further research

2016 Oyster Reef Restoration Project Funded by the Aquatic Resources Mitigation Program

This report describes the results of the construction and initial monitoring phase of an oyster restoration project conducted in 2016 by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), funded by the New Hampshire Aquatic Resources Mitigation Program. The overall goal of the project was to construct 5 acres of new oyster reef habitat in an area adjacent to a live natural reef northwest of Nannie Island, in the Town of Newington, NH, off Woodman Point. The report is organized according to the four major tasks listed as deliverables in the subaward to UNH from TNC

Assessment of recent eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reef restoration projects in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire: Planning for the future

Current oyster populations in New Hampshire total less than 10% of what they were in the 1980s, and the causal factors for the declines include disease, sedimentation, and human harvest. The two major results from a population ecology perspective have been dramatic losses of oyster shell (the major substrate on which oyster larvae typically settle) as well as juvenile annual recruitment to the remaining reefs. Experimental scale oyster restoration projects addressing these two limitations (substrate and natural recruitment) were initiated in the state in the early 2000s by scientists at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Since the mid-2000s, the focus has been on full restoration-scale projects, and beginning in 2009 most projects have been collaborative efforts by UNH and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The present study assessed nine recent collaborative efforts, and provided a comprehensive assessment of restoration success with the goal of determining how the restoration process might be improved

Aligning barge and terminal operations using service-time profiles.

We consider a key issue in hinterland container navigation in ports, such as Rotterdam and Antwerp, namely the barge handling problem: how to optimize the alignment of barge and terminal operations in a port. We make a major step in solving the barge handling problem for practical settings. Specifically, we consider restricted opening times of terminals, unbalanced networks, the presence of sea vessels, and closing times of containers. Consequently, at a terminal a barge faces time dependency in: (1) the waiting time until the start of handling and (2) the handling time itself. The concept of waiting profiles which we introduced in an earlier paper only deals with (1). To deal with (1) and (2) together we introduce a more comprehensive concept, namely that of service-time profile. To establish how well our approach works, we evaluate the performance of our distributed planning approach extensively by means of simulation. We compare our results with those based on centralized planning by using an off-line benchmark resembling it. We show that the Multi-Agent system that we introduce enables barge and terminal operators to align their operations efficiently. Hence, it can be seen as a promising solution approach for solving the barge handling problem, since it enables (competing) companies to collaborate in a competitive way

Alaska-Canada Rail Link Economic Benefits

Construction of the 1,740 km Alaska-Canada Rail Link (ACRL) between Fort Nelson, BC and Delta Junction, Alaska to join the North American rail system to the Alaska Railroad will result in tremendous economic benefits for Canada and the US. The ACRL will provide valuable additional east-west rail capacity and tidewater access to the Pacific, hugely benefitting not only the Yukon and Eastern Alaska regions, into which it will introduce rail transport for the first time, but throughout both countries. The economic benefits of ACRL construction are consistent with Canadian government’s desire to promote Northern development and comparable in significance to those of Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880’s and the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950’s. Construction of the ACRL alone will bring unprecedented economic stimulus to the region in terms of job creation, wages and income tax revenue over multiple years. Table 7-1 below summarizes the benefits from ACRL construction for the Yukon, BC and Canada as a whole. However, these estimates are conservative as they exclude benefits associated with pre-construction activities, railway operation post-construction, sales taxes and corporate taxes as well as all such benefits that will accrue to Alaska and the US

Oil-Soaked Birds Saved

HSUS participates in historic bird rescu

Oil-Soaked Birds Saved: HSUS Participates in Historic Bird Rescue

As the world watched the black tide of crude oil from the Amoco Cadiz devastate bird life along the French coast, HSUS staffer Guy Hodge was reporting to Congress about efforts to save oil-soaked birds in a recent Chesapeake Bay oil spill. A barge (ATC- 133) carrying nearly 500,000 gallons of crude had run aground south of the Maryland-Virginia border. Some of its cargo spilled into this North American waterfowl wintering area. Together with HSUS cruelty investigator Phil Steward, Hodge had assisted in the most successful on-site bird rescue operation in history. One out of every three rescued birds was saved. Testifying before the same committee Lynn Greenwalt, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service said, I think the release or survival rate of 32% is extraordinary in this set of circumstances.\u27\u2