A selection model for in-terminal container handling systems

Abstract

This paper describes the main characteristics of in-terminal container handling systems and analyzes the factors affect the total cost of these handling technologies. A cost model is developed for decision making. It includes land cost, equipment procurement cost, maintenance cost, handling efficiency, labor cost, etc. A handling cost comparison indicator R i/j is also proposed to make the pair comparisons between handling systems and thus to determine the most economical handling technology in the container yard. The results show that for yard cranes to be more economically operation only when procurement cost, yard size, interest rate, number of handlings per container are small and annual throughput is larger. The methodology proposed in this study can be evaluated and implemented for selection of container handling technology, and is anticipated to make considerable contribution to the planning of container terminal design.