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

Strategies for dynamic appointment making by container terminals

We consider a container terminal that has to make appointments with barges dynamically, in real-time, and partly automatic. The challenge for the terminal is to make appointments with only limited knowledge about future arriving barges, and in the view of uncertainty and disturbances, such as uncertain arrival and handling times, as well as cancellations and no-shows. We illustrate this problem using an innovative implementation project which is currently running in the Port of Rotterdam. This project aims to align barge rotations and terminal quay schedules by means of a multi-agent system. In this\ud paper, we take the perspective of a single terminal that will participate in this planning system, and focus on the decision making capabilities of its intelligent agent. We focus on the question how the terminal operator can optimize, on an operational level, the utilization of its quay resources, while making reliable appointments with barges, i.e., with a guaranteed departure time. We explore two approaches: (i) an analytical approach based on the value of having certain intervals within the schedule and (ii) an approach based on sources of exibility that are naturally available to the terminal. We use simulation to get insight in the benefits of these approaches. We conclude that a major increase in utilization degree could be achieved only by deploying the sources of exibility, without harming the waiting time of barges too much

The direction, mode and location of corporate expansions

Location Theory;Corporate Growth;business economics

Business Groups and Profit Redistribution: A Boon or Bane for Firms

This study investigates how profit redistribution affects the performance of firms affiliated to business groups.It shows that inefficient profit redistribution causes group-affiliated firms to perform poorly relative to independent firms.This underperformance persists even after controlling for other explanations such as diversification and resource transfers to unlisted firms.The study also shows that profit redistribution is more pronounced for groups of larger size and greater corporate control.The results of the study lend support for the inefficient profit redistribution explanation of the 'business group discount'.Business groups;corporate governance;firm performance

Applying revenue management to agent-based transportation planning

We consider a multi-company, less-than-truckload, dynamic VRP based on the concept of multi-agent systems. We focus on the intelligence of one vehicle agent and especially on its bidding strategy. We address the problem how to price loads that are offered in real-time such that available capacity is used in the most profitable way taking into account possible future revenues. We develop methods to price loads dynamically based on revenue management concepts.\ud We consider a one leg problem, i.e., a vehicle travels from i to j and can wait at most τ time units in which it can get additional loads from i to j. We develop a DP to price loads given a certain amount of remaining capacity and an expected number of auctions in the time-to-go. Because a DP might be impractical if parameters change frequently and bids has to be determined in real-time, we derived two approximations to speed up calculations. The performance of these approximations are compared with the performance of the DP. Besides we introduce a new measure to calculate the average vehicle utilisation in consolidated shipments. This measure can be calculated based on a limited amount of data and gives an indication of the efficiency of schedules and the performance of vehicles

The Impact of Ownership Structure on Firm Performance: Evidence From a Large Emerging Market

We examine how ownership structure affects the performance of firms using firm level data from a large emerging market, India.We specifically focus on a previously unexplored phenomenon, namely the differential role played by foreign institutional and foreign corporate shareholders.An examination of more than one thousand Indian listed firms suggests that the positive effect on firm performance of foreign ownership is attributable to foreign corporations that have, on average, a larger shareholding and a higher degree of commitment and long-term involvement.Furthermore, we document the positive influence of domestic corporations, which are by far the largest blockholders with significant monitoring potential.We find an interesting dichotomy in their monitoring influence depending on whether they have a group affiliation.We also perform an analysis of group firms, the results of which generally suggest a negative impact on firm performance.corporate governance;corporate ownership;corporate performance

Poverty, relative deprivation and political exclusion as drivers of violent conflict in Sub Saharan Africa

During the post-colonial period, the Sub Saharan region has witnessed a substantial number of violent conflicts, mostly within states between contending ethno-political entities manipulat- ed by rivaling political elite groups. The problems within these so-called fragile or failed states are closely related to a lack of a ‘social contract’ between incumbent elite groups and constituent ethnic communities, which leads to political fragmentation, exacerbated by the interaction of diverse social, ethnic and resource exploitation-related issues. Inter-group violence in Sub Saharan Africa is therefore likely to be the outcome of a political process whereby some local groups take on other groups living in the same region, mostly as a proxy war for conflicts resulting from the uneven impact of state policies concerning resource exploitation. The cases of Niger and Senegal are presented as illustrative examples of this process of intra-state conflict escalation. It is concluded that the state in Sub Saharan Africa needs to reinvent itself; the incumbent state elite hould adopt a long-term perspective based on solidarity