Determining the optimal number of yard trucks in smaller container terminals

• Main Authors: Maja Stojaković, Elen Twrdy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2021-03-01
• Series: European Transport Research Review
• Subjects: Container terminals; Yard tracks; Berth productivity; Operational efficiency
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-021-00482-6

Abstract Background In 2017, smaller container ports handled approximately 22% of total containerized cargo. Nowadays liner operators are calling on those ports with larger ships and demanding fast and efficient turnaround of the ships in port. This is possible only if the berth has the right capacities, is working properly and achieves a good productivity level. Methodology Productivity level does not depend only on the quay crane capacities but also the transfer mechanisation, of which the main function is to serve quay cranes on one side and yard cranes on the other side. Choosing the correct type and number of vehicles to transfer container units from berth to yard has become a very important decision in every container terminal. Results In small container terminals yard trucks represents the most common type of transfer mechanization. That is why this research is based on the allocation of the right number of yard trucks to quay cranes in order to assure better productivity levels in the berth and yard subsystems. For this purpose, a discrete-event simulation modelling approach is used. The approach is applied to a hypothetical small container terminal, which includes operations on the berth-yard-berth relation.