Why are we still queuing? Exploring landside congestion factors in Australian bulk cargo port terminals

This empirical research improves the understanding of landside congestion factors in bulk cargo port terminals. It presents a model for identifying factors and interactions contributing to congestion severity.Ports play critical roles at the intersection of multiple independent supply chains and have an enormous potential to improve supply chains' competitiveness. However, this point of intersection for supply chains also creates significant coordination challenges best exemplified by the presence of landside congestion. Although landside congestion is an issue that plagues many ports and terminals, research on congestion remains limited, especially in bulk cargo port terminals. This lack of research may also partially explain the dominance of market-based mechanisms for managing congestion. Importantly, market-based approaches often fail or shift congestion to other parts of the supply chain because they are not aligned with the causal factors and their interactions that contribute to congestion.This paper analyses three case studies. Each case centres on an Australian bulk cargo port terminal for forest products and its associated landside supply chain. The research findings identify social, technical and behavioral factors and their different types of interactions at the terminal and related supply chains and reveal how these factors contribute to the appearance and severity of landside congestion. Based on these findings, the paper presents a new definition of landside congestion and a model for identifying and understanding interactions among congestion factors. Improved knowledge of landside congestion can refine congestion management through contextually tailored solutions depending on the factors’ presence and interactions

Optimal utilization of the terminal for bulk cargo unloading

This paper analyses the capacity of a bulk cargo unloading river terminal, i.e. the existing terminal configuration with two unloading devices (operation without a help strategy and under a complete help strategy between unloading devices) and the predicted future terminal configuration with three unloading devices operating under a partial help strategy. The optimization procedure to determine unloading terminal optimal utilization, for each terminal configuration and operation strategy (existing and future situation) is also shown, due to the fact that ports (terminals) operation under an optimal capacity provides prompt accommodation of vessels with the minimum port waiting time and maximum use of berth facilities. For the purpose of a comprehensive analysis, three different river terminal simulation models have been developed due to the number of unloading devices and their operation strategy. Some of the obtained results have been applied and verified on the existing system

Dimensionamiento y optimización de la operativa en las terminales de graneles sólidos = Dimensioning and optimization of operations for dry bulk terminals

This thesis studies the factors that influence the optimization, and sizing, of dry bulk terminals, while looking for a model to reflect them. At the same time it provides an overview of dry bulk shipping, and its marine operations, while identifying literature linked to the sector. In the first part (Chapter 1 y 2) we study and analyze all the factors that tend to influence or affect the characteristics of a port terminal. In the second part (Chapter 3 and 4) a series of international terminals are analyzed, called "Wold Champions" and a part of the largest bulk terminals in the spanish coast, as well. After analyzing in detail the different types of terminals, it concludes by pointing out those decisive factors considered in the terminal design, such as ships dimensions, while considering that the sector volatility sometimes can force strategy changes due expected traffic modificationsEsta tesis estudia los factores que influyen en la optimización y dimensionamiento de las terminales de graneles sólidos, a la vez que busca un modelo para reflejarlos. A la vez pretende aportar una visión general del mundo del transporte marítimo de graneles sólidos, y su operativa, agrupando e identificado la bibliografía ligada al sector. En una primera parte (Capítulos 1 y 2) se estudian, y analizan, todos aquellos factores que influyen en las características de una terminal portuaria de graneles sólidos. En una segunda parte(Capítulos 3 y 4) se analizan una serie de terminales internacionales de graneles sólidos, las denominadas "campeones mundiales", y una gran parte de las mayores terminales ubicadas en el litoral español. Tras analizar detalladamente las diferentes tipologías de terminales se concluye señalando aquellos factores determinantes a la hora de proceder al diseño de la terminal, como son las dimensiones del buque, ala vez que se indica la volatilidad que sufre el sector y que en ocasiones puede obligar a cambios de estrategia por modificaciones sobre los tráficos previstos.Postprint (published version

Exploring congestion impact beyond the bulk cargo terminal gate

Bulk cargo terminal congestion management, approaches have tended to bealmost exclusively focused on the sea side of bulk terminals. To-date there hasbeen very limited work on land-side approaches to mitigate congestion in bulkterminals. This research aims to address these gaps by considering the effectivenessof multiple congestion management methods across a range of throughputscenarios. This paper develops a discrete event simulation model based on datacollected from an Australian bulk wood chip export maritime terminal and analysesthe effect of infrastructure and process improvements on gate congestionand hinterland logistics chains. The improvements include: variations of terminalconfigurations, a terminal appointment system and gate automation technology.This paper argues that traditional efficiency and utilization measures fail to capturethe impact of these alternatives over the whole hinterland logistics chain.Results indicate that the gate automation technology and the introduction ofan appointment system can reduce average turnaround times by approximately20%. Interestingly additional unloading capacity has a relatively small influence(<10%) on the average turnaround time under the initial truck arrival frequency.Significantly, findings highlight how the range of alternatives that improve efficiencyand utilization can be impaired when organizations do not plan andnegotiate impacts with other terminal users along the hinterland logistics chain.The impact of these alternatives needs to be evaluated in the broader hinterlandperspective to enhance stakeholder ’buy-in’ and resilience over time of solutionsimplemented

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