Title: On the scheduling of handling equipment in automated container terminals

Authors: Iñigo L. Ansorena

Addresses: Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, C/Profesor Aranguren s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain

Abstract: This paper deals with the application of the flow shop scheduling problem (FSSP) to automated container terminals. After the description of operations between the quay line and the storage yard we analyse the flow of containers through six well established heuristic methods. Additionally, we apply a full enumeration mechanism to solve the FSSP. This technique enumerates all permutation schedules and picks the best one based on the specified criterion. A numerical illustration is given to clarify the application of FSSP techniques to container terminals. The paper suggests that the selection of the best heuristic is crucial to increase productivity and achieve goals, since it allows time savings around 20%-30% depending on the method used.

Keywords: flow shop; sequencing problem; container terminals; heuristic method; automation; guided vehicles; stacking cranes; quay cranes; operation time; time savings.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2021.119406

International Journal of Operational Research, 2021 Vol.42 No.3, pp.277 - 291

Received: 13 Dec 2018
Accepted: 02 Jun 2019

Published online: 03 Dec 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article