Stochastic optimal energy management system for RTG cranes network using genetic algorithm and ensemble forecasts

In low voltage networks, Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) play a significant role in increasing energy cost savings, peak reduction and energy efficiency whilst reinforcing the electrical network infrastructure. This paper presents a stochastic optimal management system based on a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for the control of an ESS equipped with a network of electrified Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes. The stochastic management system aims to improve the reliability and economic performance, for given ESS parameters, of a network of cranes by taking into account the uncertainty in the RTGs electrical demand. A specific case study is presented using real operational data of the RTGs netwrok in the Port of Felixstowe, UK, and the results of the stochastic control system is compared to a standard set-point controller. In this paper, two forecast data sets with different levels of accuracy are used to investigate the impact of the crane demand forecast error in the proposed ESS control system. The results of the proposed control strategies indicate that the stochastic management system successfully increases the electric energy cost savings, the peak demand reductions and successfully outperforms a comparable set-point controller

Optimising discrete dynamic berth allocations in seaports using a Levy Flight based meta-heuristic

Seaports play a vital role in our everyday life: they handle 90% of our world trade goods. Improving seaports' efficiency means improving the efficiency of sending and receiving our goods. In seaports, one of the most important and most expensive operations is how to allocate vessels to berths. In this paper, we solve this problem by proposing a new meta-heuristic, which combines the nature-inspired Levy Flight random walk with local search, while taking into account tidal windows. With our algorithm, we meet the following goals: (i) to minimise the cost of all vessels while staying in the port, and (ii) to schedule available berths for the arriving vessels taking into account a multi-tidal planning horizon. In comparison with the state-of-the-art exact method using commercial solver and a competitive heuristic, the computational results prove our approach guarantees feasibility of solutions for all the problem instances and is able to find good solutions in a short amount of time, especially for large-scale instances. We also compare our results to an existing state-of-the-art Particle Swarm Optimisation and our work produces significantly better performances on all the test instances

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic: A review on maritime sectors in Malaysia

The coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 pandemic has affected many operations worldwide. This predicament also owes to the lockdown measures imposed by the affected countries. The total lockdown or partial lockdown devised by countries all over the world meant that most economic activities, be put on hold until the outbreak is contained. The decisions made by authorities of each affected country differs according to various factors, including the country's financial stability. This paper reviews the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on maritime sectors, specifically shipping, fisheries, maritime tourism, and oil and gas sector. The period of this study covers economic activities between the month of January towards the end of July 2020. Also discussed in this journal, is the analysis of the potential post-outbreak situation and the economic stimulus package. This paper serves as a reference for future research on this topic

Development dynamics of port-cities interface in the Arab Middle Eastern world - The case of Dubai global hub port-city

Many scholars in the field of architecture, urban planning, transportation, geography, economics and sociology have studied port-cities from different perspectives. Yet, the majority of literature on this topic is concerned about the Developed Western and East Asian World. With the aim to contribute to the existing studies and to fill this gap in the literature, this paper makes an attempt to study an example in the fast-developing Arab States in the Middle East, which has recently drawn a particular attention among the scholars. Dubai provides an interesting case study, as it currently hosts the major transhipment hubport of the region. Centred on a single case-study approach, a four-phase model is hypothesized as a tool to investigate the changing spatial and functional dynamics at the port-city interface from the 1900s to the 2010s. The argument is based on a reciprocal relationship between the port and the city, since the advent of a free port. Historically the port has been the economic backbone. Consequently the Creek dredging and newly constructed ports integrated with ancillary infrastructures (such as FTZs) have played an important role in boosting the growth. Some concluding remarks underline the main trends in Dubai's port-city development, compared to the existing European and Asian models. This dynamic evolution is influenced by internal factors, such as oil revenues and governmental strategies, as well as external ones, like the regional and global forces. Despite sharing common features with the Asian consolidation model, this study suggests that Dubai may demonstrate a particular pattern of port-city development