RMG crane scheduling and stacking: Overview and implications on terminal planning

Abstract

The container yard plays as major role in the competitiveness of container terminals. The latest trends in container yard operation are different kinds of automated railmounted gantry crane systems.Within the scope of modern terminal planning, these systems are of great relevance, but the strategical planning decisions are generally based on simplified assumptions about the capabilities of automated rail-mounted gantry crane control, i.e. the methods used for solving container stacking and yard crane scheduling problems. Planning decisions for the whole terminal depend on the effectiveness of operational planning procedures considered for rail-mounted gantry storage automation. First, an extensive overview on scheduling and stacking approaches is given. Secondly, the effects of different scheduling and stacking approaches on terminal planning decisions are explained. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.