Terminal expansion model for a container port for Johor port

At present, container terminal’s expansion models did not consider small changes in commercial viability with small changes in expansion size over time. This study intends to develop an alternative container terminal’s expansion model based on marginal approach. The treatment of each of these variables should be done separately for the increase in demand that may require one variable to be immediately expanded while other variables may have cope with and sustain the increase in demand. An algorithm’s expansion model is generated to calculate the expansion size, expansion time, interval of expansion and significant of expansion for each of the expansion variables, respectively. A case study was performed in Johor Port Berhad to validate the practicability and workability of the algorithm model. The initial result shows that the subsequent expansion for rubber tyred gantry crane starts in the year 2021. The expansion size of quay crane and rubber tyred gantry crane is one unit per time. The expansion size of prime mover is two units per time. The first expansion time for quay crane is in the year 2023, and the interval period is four to five years. The first expansion time for rubber tyred gantry crane is in the year 2021, and the interval period is one to two years. The first expansion time for prime mover is in the year 2025, and the interval period is one to two years. The reason for the one year allowance of the interval period is because the expansion size is based on the unit of infrastructure purchase and not based on 20-foot equivalent unit capacity. All the expansion stage is positive for the net present value. On the other hand, the algorithm model shows that the berth capacity requirement, container park area, container freight station and terminal other areas are sustainable over the planning time horizon and not based on expansion required. The research has successfully identified five key infrastructural components of the container terminal, and developed a generic mathematical model to calculate the marginal expansion required

Marginal expansion planning of infrastructure at a container terminal

Globalization push container terminal grown rapidly in decade. To fulfill the future traffic requirement, this study highlights marginal expansion planning of infrastructure in a container terminal. By using marginal approach, the expansion plan can be determine correctly and economically stage by stage. A mathematical model has generated to calculate the expansion size, expansion time, interval of expansion, expansion cost, and significant of expansion for each infrastructure respectively. It recommended determining the expansion plan for each infrastructure respectively. This is because one of the infrastructures needs to be expanding but the other may not. The generated model was verified with others model and validated with case study to investigate the practicability of the model. The model serves as expansion decision making tools to assist port expansion planners

Cross-border freight movement between Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore: utilising border based dry ports for effective inland transaction

Trade plays an important role in economic growth. Thence, a smooth cross-border transaction between Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore provides a significant implication in international trade. Currently, cross-border transactions face several issues during the crossing of borders between countries and, specifically, happens during the transactions of cargo. A very rigid documentation process within the custom clearance and theresulting severe congestion will affect the trade flow in this particular zone. Inconsistency of freight transaction documents at the cross-border also makes the transaction procedure more complicated and affects the performance of the manufacturer’s competitiveness. Thus, this paper explores the current issues at the borders involving Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore. This paper also initiates to figure out the challenges and some key success factors in modelling efficiency for cross-border transactions amongst these countries. A qualitative approach has been adapted to answer the proposed research questions. The initial results stressed that congestion, thorough and repetitious documentation procedures, involvement of many documents, as well as the time-consuming clearance of documents are key issues encountered during cross-border freight movement. This situation has caused several issues such as delays in freight delivery, losses in tax collection due to delays, reluctance to share information, and effects on the competitiveness of the freight supply chain. Development in infrastructure, information sharing, regulations, logistics performance, and customs clearance procedure can overcome the problems during cross-border Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore activities. The model outcome is expected to be smoother for the administrative process during customs clearance and it is expected to be able to efficiently reduce costs