Simulation of multi-crane single and dual cycling strategies in a container terminal

Abstract

Dual cycling is an operational strategy which can improve the efficiency of a quay crane (QC) and the land side operations of container ports by loading and unloading containers in the same cycle. Most of the research on the dual cycling strategy has focused on the modelling of single QC operations. Multi-QC dual cycling reduces the operation time of a vessel involved in an operation. The aim of this study is to show how multi-QC single and dual cycling strategies can be modelled and analysed by simulation. Two simulation models are developed for a port container terminal to analyse the application results of single and dual cycling strategies used for vessel loading and unloading operations. Multi QC single cycling strategy is used in the first model while multi QC dual and single cycling strategy is used in the second model. The method is illustrated by a real-life case study. The findings of the simulation results show that the system performance can be improved by using the multi-QC dual cycling strategy.