Optimum Planning on Material Handling Operation in Container Terminal (2nd Report, Optimum Design on Berch Configuration)

Abstract

This paper describes the optimum design on the berth configuration extension plan of materials handling systems in container terminals. The operation model with flexible controlled operation rule, which was put forward on the first report of this research, is used to analyze the margin degree of operation ability of the system to increasing operation quantity within a long period. The whole problem is divided into two parts: (a). dynamic programming is used as a basic algorithm for the optimal path of decision-making; (b). nonlinear search programming combined with discrete event system simulation is used for configuration analysis of a given year, especially for the final year’s. The minimum total ship waiting time is established as the objective function. Fuzzy set theory is applied to deal with the uncertainty in decision made by terminal management, and the optimal decision-making sequence on the system configuration plan is decided. A case study is analyzed to confirm the validity and effectiveness of the approach. © 1999, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved.