An Arena Simulation Model For Empty Container Reposition Problems

LIU, CHIA-HAO (2012) An Arena Simulation Model For Empty Container Reposition Problems. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The imbalance in international trading has deeply affected shipping lines’ income. Due to this shipping lines have started to focus on container reposition problems to enhance their competitive strength. However, according to research report from Crinks (2000), the author points out that in global container utilization, a large percentage is used for idle and empty container repositioning. In addition, container reposition operations rely on operators’ experiences and historical data. It is clear that shipping lines bear large uncertain risks in the process. Many researchers believe that container reposition problems involve many factors, thus, constructing an operation model which can support operators is an essential process.

This dissertation is utilizing the concept of simulation modelling based on the idea of total container number balancing to cope with container reposition problems. The simulation model in this dissertation contains port operation programme and inland transport programme to simulate practical operating systems of container reposition operations. Additionally, this simulation model is built on Arena simulation software which allows researchers utilizing an intuitive method to construct container reposition simulation model.

In the introduction of variability, as mentioned before, this dissertation is utilizing the concept of total container number balancing to address container reposition problems. The total container number is the number of containers which are under shipping lines control. Thus, this dissertation modifies some variations like changing unloading and loading time in port operation programme. The results show that different degree of changing in these variations will affect total container numbers in each port controlled by shipping lines.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 08 Apr 2013 13:04
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2017 13:21
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/26194

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