Design and analysis of a multi-trailer system for the Durban container terminal.

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2018.Multi-trailer systems (MTS) allow for the transportation of multiple shipping containers in a single movement as opposed to the conventional trailer systems often used within a port terminal environment. The adoption of MTSs creates an opportunity for container terminal operators to reduce the operational costs associated with container movements between the container vessel and stacking areas during the vessel loading and unloading operations while maintaining, and in certain cases improving, the port’s quayside productivity. A reduction in operational costs can potentially result in lower tariffs levied to container vessel operators, improving the competitiveness of a port. While MTSs have been in existence for many years and have been successfully implemented in many international port container terminals, the influence of this type of trailer on the operational costs of the waterside horizontal-transport system and on the quayside productivity within South African ports has not been investigated or demonstrated to date. This study set out to determine the influence which an indigenously designed MTS has on the abovementioned factors at South Africa’s largest container port, the Durban Container Terminal. Discrete event simulations were used to benchmark the current performance of the container movement operations at Pier One of the Durban Container Terminal using the existing tractor-trailer units (TTUs). The performance of the operations was then analysed for the scenario of replacing the TTUs with MTSs that have twice the container carrying capacity. The results showed that nine MTSs can replace the existing fleet of fifteen TTUs without compromising on the quayside performance for the vessel unloading operations, which leads to a 25% reduction in operational costs. A reduction in labour costs accounts for 88% of the saving. Use of MTSs for the vessel loading operations showed minimal benefit and the performance using the existing TTUs for this operation can be considered equivalent. The results imply that an MTS configuration with the ability to uncouple the individual trailers in the set for use as TTUs was required. This lead to the selection of a semi-trailer lead MTS configuration incorporating the use of a converter dolly for the indigenous design conducted here. The indigenous MTS design consisted of two identical semi-trailers connected using a converter dolly, allowing for interchangeability in the MTS set and for use of the semi-trailers as TTUs. The terminal’s existing semi-trailers could have been used with the converter dolly designed in this study for the MTS, however an improved semi-trailer design with regards to mass, cost and manoeuvrability has been provided. The new semi-trailer design was shown to have a 21.4% lower tare mass and a 14.1% lower product manufacturing cost over the existing design. For the MTS configuration, up to an 11.6% improvement in manoeuvrability is expected when using the newly designed semi-trailer

Agent-based Modelling and Big Data: Applications for Maritime Traffic Analysis

Agent based modeling (ABM) is a powerful tool for examining complex systems in many scientific applications, including maritime transport systems. Growing demands for freight transport and increased industry emphasis on reducing environmental impacts have heightened the focus on vessel and port efficiency. This research aimed to create a maritime route planning model to simulate vessel movement in all waterways. The goal of the ship routing model developed in this research was to develop a simulation tool capable of reproducing real world shipping routes useful for navigation planning, with emphasis on port scheduling and potential application for further use and exploration. A modified breadth-first search algorithm was implemented as a NetLogo ABM in this research. With increasing volumes of ship location monitoring data, new approaches are now possible for examining performance-based metrics and to improve simulations with more precise verification and analysis. A Satellite Automatic Identification System dataset with over 500,000 vessel logs travelling across the Pacific Ocean and into the Port of Metro Vancouver was used as the focal area for model development and validation in this study. Automatic identification system (AIS) is the global standard for maritime navigation and traffic management, and data derived from AIS messages can be used for calibrating simulation model scenarios. In this analysis, the results examined how changes in simulation parameters alter route choice behaviour and how effective large AIS datasets are for validating and calibrating model results. Using large AIS datasets, model results can be quantified to examine how closely they resemble real-time vessels in the same region. Heatmaps provide a data visualization tool that effectively uses large data sets and calculates how closely model results resemble AIS data from the same region. In the case of PMV, the Maritime Ship Routing Model (MSRM) was able to replicate path likeness with a high level of accuracy, generating realistic navigation paths between the many islands on the eastern side of southern Vancouver Island, B.C., a busy marine traffic region and sensitive ecological area. This research highlights the use of ABM as a powerful, user-friendly tool for developing maritime shipping models useful for port scheduling and route analysis. The results of this study emphasize the use of large data sets that are applicable, clean, and reliable as a crucial source for validating and calibrating the MSRM

Enhancing productivity in a container terminal through a systems approach: a case study of the Port of Durban.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Ports and container terminal processes are vital constituents contributing to the economy of a country. The management of these facilities, including operational productivity advancement strategies, are critical for a port’s competitiveness. A systems approach, with a focus on causal loop diagrams which are part of system dynamics, and aspects of soft systems methodology and container terminal productivity, are the underlying theoretical concepts for this investigation. The research sought to enhance productivity in a container terminal through a systems approach, using the Port of Durban as a case study. The study reports on a sensitivity analysis of key performance indicators for port productivity and how the performance can be improved using systems approaches. The methodology followed a mixed methods approach which incorporated qualitative and quantitative data collection. Secondary data analysis and semi-structured interviews were conducted, including Causal Loop Analysis and Soft Systems Methodology workshops. The key findings of the multiple regression analysis indicate that the critical elements for enhanced productivity at Durban Port are gross crane hour, ship working hour and rail turnaround time. A systems approach facilitated development of causal loop diagrams, rich pictures, root definition, conceptual model and analysis of Customers, Actors, Transformation process, Worldview, Owners and Environmental Constraints for improved terminal operations, with a focus on improved ship turnaround time. The causal loop analysis was instrumental in determining cause and effect factors contributing to the inefficiencies of the terminal and facilitated the discovery of key variables contributing to optimised maritime, terminal and hinterland operations. The Soft Systems Methodology approach facilitated a process of constructing a framework for improving terminal operations by identifying system structure, transformation process, main players and customers, including their interactions within the system, using a CATWOE analysis. The conceptual model enabled identification of required activities needed to improve marine, terminal and hinterland activities within the port and terminal-owned system. The study contributed to new knowledge by exploring all three dimensions that impact efficiencies in the South African context, and through the development of the conceptual model for enhanced terminal operations using a systems approach

Application of Mixed Simulation Method to Modelling Port Traffic

Marine ports are the largest single business complex in the maritime sector impacting the coastal, marine, and atmospheric environment. The environmental effects of port operations mostly originate from the vessel and cargo handling operations, and maintenance. Port operations generate marine pollution in many forms (chemical, biological, solid waste, and sedimentation) and present a challenge to all port operators. Because ports are often located near urban areas, the wider impact of port operations on the environment cannot be ignored as it can potentially affect the economy of these areas as a whole. Air pollution is a significant externality for ports located close to urban areas. Around 4.5% and 6.2% of the total SO2 and NOX respectively, emitted by ships are due to in-port activities such as manoeuvring (approaching harbours) and hoteling (at the dock in port). A vessel consumes around 10% of fuel during slow manoeuvring. Assuming around 4.5% and 6.2% of the total SO2 and NOx emitted by ships are due to in-port activities such as manoeuvring (approaching harbours) and hoteling (at the dock in port), simplifying the traffic model hinders the ability to conduct accurate emission assessment and limits the ability to conduct an environmental assessment as a result of increased port capacity. The research aim is to develop a multi-method simulation model of port systems to simulate port traffic for assessing various port challenges like emission, throughputs, etc. The study will develop a mixed simulation model of port systems comprising of marine traffic and associated processes using the port of Liverpool as a case study. The developed simulation model will be used to estimate emission within the case study port. The study developed a multi-method simulation model representing individual actors and specific processes of the entire port system. The developed simulation method integrates two major modelling approaches: discrete-event simulation and agent-based simulation. Due to the complexity within the port, the study focused on the vessel and cargo handling sector of the port because manoeuvring (approaching harbours) is a significant source of pollution. The developed method adopts an object-oriented approach. Object-oriented modelling is an important aspect of the modelling methodology because it supports the reusability and scalability of the developed model as entities are represented as objects with specific characteristics based on their types. This is significant in representing vessel and cargo terminal types. Each vessel type was encapsulated with internal characteristics e.g. passage plan, speed, etc. A terminal developed to handle bulk cargoes is different from a terminal that handles container cargoes. Therefore, agents were developed to represent various cargo terminal types (such as container terminal, bulk terminal, passenger terminal, etc.), with each terminal type possessing its characteristics specific to itself. The method was applied in the study area. AIS data was collected for the Port of Liverpool over the 12 months of 2016. The data provides information on all marine traffic (fitted with AIS) for the Port of Liverpool outer channel (Liverpool Bay) and the port inbound and outbound lanes along the River Mersey. This data set was used to design and validated the simulation model. A maximum of seven vessels was observed to be transiting through the outer waterway, four at the inner and two in the manoeuvring waterway. Vessel transit times and speed variation are observed to be influenced by the vessel traffic density within each waterway. Vessel waiting and dwell time are seen to be influenced by lock availability and the tidal condition of the port. An increase in tidal duration results in an increase in both waiting and dwell time and vice versa. The validation outcome reveals that the developed model also possesses a relative realistic speed changing behaviour when compared to real-world data. The simulation result also shows a realistic relationship with the travel time distribution from the historical data set. The developed model represents the port as an entire system, however, the study only focussed on the vessel handling process. Previous port modelling has witnessed lots of simplification in vessel traffic models, port process models, and exclusions of external condition models over the years, but the object-oriented programme implemented in this study can help solve these issues. Therefore, the developed methodology would enable better models to be integrated

The Legal Regulation of Port Waste Management in the United Kingdom and Nigeria: Comparative Analysis of Southampton Port in the UK and Apapa Port in Nigeria

This research centres on the legal regulation of port waste management in the UK and Nigeria: comparative analysis of Southampton port and Apapa Lagos port. The research focused on ship-generated waste, and operational discharge of waste from ship at the port. Thus, waste generation within the port environment occurs due to shipping and multifarious activities at the port. It is therefore important, that waste generation is properly regulated due to pivotal role port plays in economic development via export and import of goods into a country. Hence, such economic development could be hindered, if waste legislation is not adequately implemented or effectively managed. Therefore, measures must be taken nationally and internationally to control port waste generation with a view to protecting port from negative effect of ineffective port waste management. This research, therefore, addresses the problems of waste and the effective legal framework for solving waste glitches as well as the machinery for its enforcement. This research used interview, to examine the view of various stakeholders on port waste management, compliance with its legal framework and the role of such legal regulations for effective port waste management. Furthermore, the research also recognised a direct link between adequate port waste reception facilities, port decongestion, secure and safety of the port environment, which perhaps form the nucleus of waste management. The research therefore, aims to establish that effective and efficient port waste management is a strong panacea in oiling the wheel of port waste free. It therefore recommends that both the UK and Nigeria government and its relevant agencies should make concerted efforts to ensure efficient and effective implementation of legal regulations of port waste management at all level at the port with a view to securing port from ineffective waste management

2023, UMaine News Press Releases

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications between January 3, 2023 and November 1, 2023

2022, UMaine News Press Releases

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications between January 3, 2022 and October 17, 2022

Florida Undergraduate Research Conference

FURC serves as a multi-disciplinary conference through which undergraduate students from the state of Florida can present their research. February 16-17, 2024https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/university_events/1006/thumbnail.jp

1995 BRAC Commission

Regional Hearing Material for CA, IL, MA, GA, TX Regional Hearings, May - June 1995. (Box 94

Way Station to Space: A History of the John C. Stennis Space Center

A history of the NASA John C. Stennis Space Center is presented. A study of the Apollo era is provided. This new addition to the NASA history series is also an allegory of the Center's relationship to the local communities in Mississippi and Louisiana, its sister Centers, and to NASA Headquarters