Immunity-based evolutionary algorithm for optimal global container repositioning in liner shipping

Global container repositioning in liner shipping has always been a challenging problem in container transportation as the global market in maritime logistics is complex and competitive. Supply and demand are dynamic under the ever changing trade imbalance. A useful computation optimization tool to assist shipping liners on decision making and planning to reposition large quantities of empty containers from surplus countries to deficit regions in a cost effective manner is crucial. A novel immunity-based evolutionary algorithm known as immunity-based evolutionary algorithm (IMEA) is developed to solve the multi-objective container repositioning problems in this research. The algorithm adopts the clonal selection and immune suppression theories to attain the Pareto optimal front. The proposed algorithm was verified with benchmarking functions and compared with four optimization algorithms to assess its diversity and spread. The developed algorithm provides a useful means to solve the problem and assist shipping liners in the global container transportation operations in an optimized and cost effective manner. © 2010 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

New Concept of Container Allocation at the National Level: Case Study of Export Industry in Thailand

This paper presents container allocation technique of which minimizing the total opportunity loss of an export industry in Thailand. This new allocation concept applies as a strategic management tools at the national level since it is consistent to the characteristics of the container supply chain management in Thailand. The first section of this paper presents the review of facts and problems of container supply chain management. It reveals that containerization system is significant to the international trade as it holds good characteristics of sea transportation. It can transport a lot of products while minimize the damage of goods. Supply chain management of the containerization system presents and shows that there are four main players in managing the container – principal, port, container depot, and customer. After an intensive review of containerization system’s problem, the most common problem that all parties have encountered is an imbalance between demand and supply of container. The well-known solution to the stated problem is relocation of containers between various places using optimization technique, which aims to minimize operation cost. Indeed, those solutions are unable solve the containerization system’s problem in Thailand: lacking their own fleets: having no bargaining power in relocating container between areas as needed. In the present, many of Thai exporters face with losses of sales or profit because they cannot find enough or proper containers to transport their goods to the customer. The authors, therefore, have seen that those problems need to be strategically solved by the government. The limited number of containers must be properly allocated to the exporter with regard to the minimum losses to the economics of the country. The main contributions of this paper are two folds. First, the opportunity losses of the various export industry are indicated when lack of containers, Second, the mathematical model has been formulated using linear programming technique with several constraints, such as, demand, supply, obsolete time, operating cost, lead time etc. The authors hope that the new concept presented in this paper will provide the great contribution for other countries, which face the same problem of Thailand. Keywords: Container Management, Opportunity Loss, Allocation Problem, Optimization, International Trad

Bundling Strategies in Global Supply Chains

The development of logistics has offered a wide range of new business opportunities for transport operators. Shipping lines have been taking advantage of these opportunities and have expanded their business scope beyond the movement of cargo, to include, for example, coordination among transport modes, route rationalisation and even value added logistics services. Carriers offer today transportation as part of integrated global supply chain solutions in an attempt to provide a better service to their customers as well as improve their bottom lines. This appears to be a winning strategy since an increasing number of industry players are investing in logistics operations and infrastructure. The offering of products and services jointly as a package or bundle is a common marketing strategy in a variety of industries and also appears to be a successful strategy for enhancing shipping lines’ competitiveness and profitability. Only limited research is available though to better understand under what conditions such bundled sales are possible; what attitude shippers show towards this industry trend; how bundling strategies could be developed optimally; and how they could be priced. This thesis is a contribution to research in this area and provides an analysis of the viability and the benefits of bundling strategies in the container industry, and specifically with reference to the joint provision of ocean transportation and other logistics services

Otimização de rotas de distribuição marítima de curta distância

Mestrado em Engenharia e Gestão IndustrialA presente dissertação tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento de uma heurística para resolução do problema de Container Stowage and Ship Routing Problem (CSSRP). O transporte marítimo de curta distância envolve a gestão de porta-contentores e respetivas cargas que têm de ser entregues dentro de prazos pré-definidos a um conjunto de portos marítimos. O problema é constituído por duas decisões importantes que devem ser tomadas: qual a rota que os navios deverão percorrer e como deverá ser elaborado o plano de carga para cada navio tentando evitar cargas e descargas desnecessárias. Para isso foi desenvolvida uma heurística e apresentam-se os resultados obtidos, comparando-os com a solução ótima obtida pelo modelo matemático desenvolvido em (Moura et al., 2012a). Pretende-se com a heurística desenvolvida obter soluções admissíveis próximas da solução ótima. A solução ótima é calculada recorrendo a um modelo de programação linear inteira que entre outros objetivos minimiza movimentos de cargas e descargas desnecessárias de contentores. A heurística aqui apresentada privilegia a sequência de visita aos portos pelos navios que seja mais curta, considerando restrições de capacidade dos navios e deadlines dos contentores. Para validação da heurística, esta foi testada com problemas baseados em dados reais e apresentados por (Moura et al., 2012a).This work aims to develop a heuristic to resolve the Container Stowage and Ship Routing Problem (CSSRP). The short sea shipping involves the management of container vessels and respective cargo with delivered date predefined to a set of seaports. The problem consists of two important decisions that must be made: which route the ships should take and how the cargo plan should be prepared for each ship to avoid unnecessary loads and unloads of containers. For that was developed an heuristic and the results obtained were compared with the optimal solution obtained by the mathematical model developed by Moura et al. (Moura et al., 2012a) . The intention of the heuristics developed is to obtain admissible solutions near the optimal solution. The optimal solution is calculated using a mixed integer programming model that among other objectives minimizes the movements of unnecessary loading and unloading of containers. The heuristic here presented favours the shorter sequence of ports visit by vessels, considering capacity constraints of ships and containers deadlines. To validate the heurist, that was tested with problems based on real data and presented at (Moura et al., 2012a)

Bats echolocation-inspired algorithms for global optimisation problems

Swarm intelligence algorithms, are among popular metaheuristic methods, developed and inspired by the collective behaviour of swarms that have attracted significant attention of researchers. The works related to swarm intelligence algorithms include the development of the algorithm itself, its modification and improvisation as well as its application in solving global optimisation problems. This thesis presents works on swarm intelligence algorithms that are inspired by real echolocation of a colony of bats and its performance evaluation to solve optimisation problems. The aim of the research is to introduce novel form of swarm intelligence algorithms based on real echolocation behaviour of bats. An adaptive bats sonar algorithm is proposed for solving single objective optimisation problems. A modified adaptive bats sonar algorithm is then proposed for solving constrained optimisation problems. Furthermore, a dual-particle swarm optimisation-modified adaptive bats sonar algorithm is proposed for solving multi objective optimisation problems. The algorithm is a hybrid algorithm that operates using dual level search strategy that takes merits of a particle swarm optimisation algorithm and a modified adaptive bats sonar algorithm. The superior performances of the developed bats echolocation-inspired algorithms are verified through rigorous tests with optimisation benchmark test functions and problems. Further, the performances of the developed algorithms are assessed in solving selected practical problems in business, mechanical/manufacturing engineering and electrical engineering fields. The results validate the better performance of the developed algorithms in single objective optimisation, constrained optimisation and multi objective optimisation problems of various fields

Analysis of the impacts of Internet-based business activities on the container shipping industry : the system dynamics modeling approach with the framework of technological evolution

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (p. 381-392).The internet-based business (e-business) activities have become a new technological challenge to the container shipping industry (CSI) in recent years. Despite the growing importance of e-business in the CSI, little systematic and theoretical research on e-business has been undertaken so far. This research therefore attempts to understand the potential impacts of e-business on the container shipping industry and to provide carriers with the managerial recommendations responding to the impacts of e-business. An integrated system dynamics model is developed to simulate the potential impacts of e-business on the container shipping industry and to explore the successful managerial strategies for carriers with regard to e-business. In order to increase the confidence of the model, the general business dynamics in the CSI are reviewed and the historical impacts of new technologies on the container shipping industry are analyzed using the framework of technological evolution. Furthermore, the technology strategies of six different e-business models in the CSI are evaluated using the proposed three frameworks to identify the most promising e-business model.The research finds that the profitability of carriers will be improved in the long term if they successfully develop the logistics service offering (LSO) with e-business in a cost efficient way. However, despite the improved profitability from the LSO and e-business, the container shipping service could be commoditized further unless changes are made to the current practice of expanding the containership capacity. In addition, the improved profits from the LSO and e-business will drive the structural changes in the container shipping industry. In order to improve the carriers' profitability over a long period of time, it is recommended that carriers continue to add new services on top of the container shipping service while expanding the containership capacity more wisely and conservatively.by Jae Hyuck Auh.Ph.D

Historia, evolución y perspectivas de futuro en la utilización de técnicas de simulación en la gestión portuaria: aplicaciones en el análisis de operaciones, estrategia y planificación portuaria

Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Análise Económica e Estratexia Empresarial. 5033V0[Resumen] Las técnicas de simulación, tal y como hoy las conocemos, comenzaron a mediados del siglo XX; primero con la aparición del primer computador y el desarrollo del método Monte Carlo, y más tarde con el desarrollo del primer simulador de propósito específico conocido como GPS y desarrollado por Geoffrey Gordon en IBM y la publicación del primer texto completo dedicado a esta materia y llamado the Art of Simulation (K.D. Tocher, 1963). Estás técnicas han evolucionado de una manera extraordinaria y hoy en día están plenamente implementadas en diversos campos de actividad. Las instalaciones portuarias no han escapado de esta tendencia, especialmente las dedicadas al tráfico de contenedores. Efectivamente, las características intrínsecas de este sector económico, le hacen un candidato idóneo para la implementación de modelos de simulación con propósitos y alcances muy diversos. No existe, sin embargo y hasta lo que conocemos, un trabajo científico que compile y analice pormenorizadamente tanto la historia como la evolución de simulación en ambientes portuarios, ayudando a clasificar los mismos y determinar cómo estos pueden ayudar en el análisis económico de estas instalaciones y en la formulación de las oportunas estrategias empresariales. Este es el objetivo último de la presente tesis doctoral.[Resumo] As técnicas de simulación, tal e como hoxe as coñecemos, comezaron a mediados do século XX; primeiro coa aparición do computador e o desenvolvemento do método Monte Carlo e máis tarde co desenvolvemento do primeiro simulador de propósito específico coñecido como GPS e desenvolvido por Geoffrey Gordon en IBM e a publicación do primeiro texto completo dedicado a este tema chamado “A Arte da Simulación” (K.D. Tocher, 1963). Estas técnicas evolucionaron dun xeito extraordinario e hoxe en día están plenamente implementadas en diversos campos de actividade. As instalacións portuarias non escaparon desta tendencia, especialmente as dedicadas ao tráfico de contenedores. Efectivamente, as características intrínsecas deste sector económico, fanlle un candidato idóneo para a implementación de modelos de simulación con propósitos e alcances moi variados. Con todo, e ata o que coñecemos, non existe un traballo científico que compila e analiza de forma detallada tanto a historia como a evolución da simulación en estes ambientes portuarios, clasificando os mesmos e determinando como estes poden axudar na análise económica destas instalacións e na formulación das oportunas estratexias empresariais. Este é o último obxectivo da presente tese doutoral.[Abstract] Simulation, to the extend that we understand it nowadays, began in the middle of the 20th century; first with the appearance of the computer and the development of the Monte Carlo method, and later with the development of the first specific purpose simulator known as GPS developed by Geoffrey Gordon in IBM. This author published the first full text devoted to this subject “The Art of Simulation” in 1963. These techniques have evolved in an extraordinary way and nowadays they are fully implemented in different fields of activity. Port facilities have not escaped this trend, especially those dedicated to container traffic. Indeed, the intrinsic characteristics of this economic sector, make it a suitable candidate for the implementation of simulation with very different purposes and scope. However, to the best of our knowelegde, there is not a scientific work that compiles and analyzes in detail both, the history and the evolution of simulation in port environments, contributing to classify them and determine how they can help in the economic analysis of these facilities and in the formulation of different business strategies. This is the ultimate goal of this doctoral thesis

Space station systems: A bibliography with indexes (supplement 6)

This bibliography lists 1,133 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between July 1, 1987 and December 31, 1987. Its purpose is to provide helpful information to the researcher, manager, and designer in technology development and mission design according to system, interactive analysis and design, structural and thermal analysis and design, structural concepts and control systems, electronics, advanced materials, assembly concepts, propulsion, and solar power satellite systems. The coverage includes documents that define major systems and subsystems, servicing and support requirements, procedures and operations, and missions for the current and future Space Station