Title: Dynamic berth allocation problem for a novel hybrid berth system in container terminal

Authors: Bo Lu; Shuai Hao; Meng Zhao; Huipo Wang

Addresses: School of Economics and Management, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China ' School of Economics and Management, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China ' School of Economics and Management, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China ' School of Management Engineering and Business, Hebei University of Engineering, No. 19 Taiji Road, Handan 056038, China

Abstract: This paper considers a novel hybrid berth system (NHBS) that contains both the continuous and discrete berth areas. To balance the high berth utilisation and efficient cargo handling, the dynamic berth allocation problem for the NHBS is proposed that simultaneously determines the selection of berth areas, the specified berth allocation and scheduling under dynamically arriving berth demand. To capture all these operation determinations by an integrated mathematical modelling framework, a mixed integer linear programming model is rigorously formulated aiming to minimise the system service time. We develop a customised solution approach based on genetic algorithm that can efficiently solve this model to high quality solutions. A series of numerical experiments are performed based on real-world cases with managerial insights into the effect of the key parameters on the daily operations and system design.

Keywords: dynamic berth allocation problem; DBAP; hybrid berth system; container terminals; mixed integer linear programming; MILP; genetic algorithm.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2025.146580

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2025 Vol.20 No.2, pp.159 - 189

Received: 03 Mar 2023
Accepted: 10 Aug 2023
Published online: 05 Jun 2025 *

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