Scientific literature

Note: Please, do not contact me to obtain a copy of any of these books or articles. First of all, I do not have every article or book myself. Secondly, this would violate international copyright laws.

In the area of container logistics numerous articles exist. The article of Vis and De Koster (2003) gives a classification of the decision problems that arise at container terminals. For various decison problems an overview of relevant literature is presented. Quantitative models from this literature, which try to solve the problems are discussed. The source of this paper is:

• Vis, I.F.A., De Koster, R.(2003), Transshipment of containers at a container terminal: an overview, European Journal of Operational Research 147(1), 1-16.

Another overview article in the area of container logistics is:

• Steenken, D., Voss, S., Stahlbock, R. (2004), Container terminal operation and operations research - a classification and literature review, OR Spectrum 26, 3-49.

The literature can be divided over the various processes in the container terminal. On this page we give many papers concerning one or more of the logistics processes at a container terminal.

Arrival of the ship

• Edmond, E.D., Maggs, R.P. (1978), How useful are queue models in port investment decisions for container berths?, Journal of the Operational Research Society 29(8), 741-750.
• Guan, Y., Cheung, R.K. (2004), The berth allocation problem: models and solution methods, OR Spectrum 26, 75-92.
• Imai, A., Nagaiwa, K., Tat, C.W. (1997), Efficient planning of berth allocation for container terminals in Asia, Journal of Advanced Transportation 31(1), 75-94.
• Imai, A., Nishimura, E., Papadimitriou, S. (2001), The dynamic berth allocation problem for a container port, Transportation Research B 35, 401-417.
• Imai, A., Nishimura, E., Papadimitriou, S. (2002), Berth allocation with service priority, Transportation Research Part B 37, 437-457.
• Kim, K.H., Moon, K.C. (2003), Berth scheduling by simulated annealing, Transportation Research Part B 37, 541-560.
• Legato, P., Mazza, R.M. (2001), Berth planning and resources optimisation at a container terminal via discrete event simulation, European Journal of Operational Research 133, 537-547.
• Nishimura, E., Imai, A., Papadimitriou, S. (2001), Berth allocation planning in the public berth system by genetic algorithms, European Journal of Operational Research 131, 282-292.

Unloading and loading of the ship

• Avriel, M., Penn, M., Shpirer, N., Witteboon, S. (1998), Stowage planning for container ships to reduce the number of shifts, Annals of Operations Research 76, 55-71.
• Avriel, M., Penn, M., Shpirer, N. (2000), Container ship stowage problem: complexity and connection to the coloring of circle graphs, Discrete Applied Mathematics 103, 271-279.
• Daganzo, C.F. (1989), The crane scheduling problem, Transportation Research B 23(3), 159-175.
• Kim, K.H., Park. Y.M. (2004), A crane scheduling method for port container terminals, European Journal of Operational Research 156, 752-768.
• Peterkofsky, R.I., Daganzo, C.F. (1990), A branch and bound solution method for the crane scheduling problem, Transportation Research B 24(3), 159-172.
• Shields, J.J. (1984), Container stowage: a computer-aided preplanning system, Marine Technology 21(4), 370-383.
• Wilson, I.D., Roach, P.A. (2000), Container stowage planning: a methodology for generating computerised solutions, Journal of the Operational Research Society 51, 1248-1255.

Transport of containers from ship to stack and vice versa

• Anonymous (1999), More AGVs for ECT, Cargo Systems June, 5.
• Baker, C. (1998), High time for straddles, Cargo Systems October, 23-26.
• Bish, E.K., Leong, T.Y., Li, C.L., Ng, J.W.C., Simchi-Levi, D. (2001), Analysis of a new vehicle scheduling and location problem, Naval Research Logistics 48, 363-385.
• Böse, J., Reiners, T., Steenken, D., Voss, S. (2000), Vehicle dispatching at seaport container terminals using evolutionary algorithms, Proceedings of the 33rd Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences.
• Chen, Y., Leong, Y.T., Ng, J.W.C., Demir, E.K., Nelson, B.L., Simchi-Levi, D. (1998), Dispatching automated guided vehicles in a mega container terminal, paper presented at INFORMS Montreal 1998, Canada.
• Evers, J.J.M., Koppers, S.A.J. (1996), Automated guided vehicle traffic control at a container terminal, Transportation Research A 30(1), 21-34.
• Grunow, M., Günther, H.O., Lehmann, M. (2004), Dispatching multi-load AGVs in highly automated seaport container terminals, OR Spectrum 26 211-235.
• Kim, K.H., Bae, J.W. (1999), A dispatching method for automated guided vehicles to minimize delays of containership operations, International Journal of Management Science 5(1), 1-25.
• Steenken, D. (1992), Fahrwegoptimierung am containerterminal unter echtzeitbedingungen, OR Spektrum 14, 161-168.
• Steenken, D., Henning A., Freigang, S., Voss, S. (1993), Routing of straddle carriers at a container terminal with the special aspect of internal moves, OR Spektrum 15, 167-172.
• Van der Meer, J.R. (2000), Operational control of internal transport, ERIM Ph.D. Series Research in Management 1, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Vis, I.F.A., De Koster, R., Roodbergen, K.J., Peeters, L.W.P. (2001), Determination of the number of automated guided vehicles required at a semi-automated container terminal, Journal of the Operational Research Society 52, 409-417.
• Vis, I.F.A., De Koster, R., Savelsbergh, M.W.P. (2000), Estimation of the number of transport vehicles at a container terminal, in: Progress in Material Handling Research: 2000, Graves, R.J., McGinnis, L.F., Ogle, M.K., Peters, B.A., Ward, R.E., Wilhelm, M.R. (eds.), Material Handling Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina, 404-420.
• Vis, I.F.A., De Koster, R., Savelsbergh, M.W.P. (to appear), Minimum vehicle fleet size under time window constraints at a container terminal, Transportation Science.
• Vis, I.F.A., Harika, I. (2004), Comparison of vehicle types at an automated container terminal, OR Spectrum, 26, 117-143.
• Vis, I.F.A., Harika, I. (2005), Comparison of vehicle types at an automated container terminal, in Container Terminals and Automated Transport Systems, H.O. Günther and K.H. Kim (eds)., Springer Verlag, Germany, 51-77.

Stacking of containers

• Cao, B., Uebe, G. (1993), An algorithm for solving capacitated multicommodity p-median transportation problems, Journal of the Operational Research Society 44(3), 259-269.
• Chen, T. (1999), Yard operations in the container terminal - a study in the 'unproductive moves', Maritime Policy & Management 26(1), 27-38.
• Chen, C.Y., Chao, S.L., Hsieh, T.W. (2000), A time-space network model for the space resource allocation problem in container marine transportation, paper presented at the 17th international symposium on mathematical programming 2000, Atlanta, USA.
• Cheung, R.K., Li, C.-L., Lin, W. (2002), Interblock crane deployment in container terminals, Transportation Science 36(1), 79-93.
• Chung, Y.G., Randhawa, S.U., McDowell, E.D. (1988), A simulation analysis for a transtainer-based container handling facility, Computers & Industrial Engineering 14(2), 113-125.
• De Castilho, B., Daganzo, C.F. (1993), Handling strategies for import containers at marine terminals, Transportation Research B 27(2), 151-166.
• Holguin-Veras, J., Jara-Diaz, S. (1999), Optimal pricing for priority service and space allocation in container ports, Transportation Research B 33, 81-106.
• Kim, K.H. (1997), Evaluation of the number of rehandles in container yards, Computers & Industrial Engineering 32(4), 701-711.
• Kim, K.H., Bae, J.W. (1998), Re-marshaling export containers in port container terminals, Computers & Industrial Engineering 35(3-4), 655-658.
• Kim, K.H., Kim, H.B. (1998), The optimal determination of the space requirement and the number of transfer cranes for import containers, Computers \ Industrial Engineering 35(3-4), 427-430.
• Kim, K.H., Kim, H.B. (1999), Segregating space allocation models for container inventories in port container terminals, International Journal of Production Economics 59, 415-423.
• Kim, K.H., Kim, H.B. (2002), The optimal sizing of the storage space and handling facilities for import containers, Transportation Research Part B 36, 821-835.
• Kim, K.H., Kim, K.Y. (1999), An optimal routing algorithm for a transfer crane in port container terminals, Transportation Science 33(1), 17-33.
• Kim, K.H., Kim, K.Y. (1999), Routing straddle carriers for the loading operation of containers using a beam search algorithm, Computers and Industrial Engineering 36(1), 109-136.
• Kim, K.H., Kang, J.S., Ryu, K.R. (2004), A beam search algorithm for the load sequencing of outbound containers in port container terminals, OR Spectrum 26, 93-116.
• Kim, K.H., Lee, K.M., Hwang, H. (2003), Sequencing delivery and receiving operations for yard cranes in port container terminals, International Journal of Production Economics 84, 283-292.
• Kim, K.H., Park, Y.M., Ryu, K.R. (2000), Deriving decision rules to locate export containers in container yards, European Journal of Operational Research 124, 89-101.
• Kim, K.H., Park, K.T. (2002), A note on a dynamic space-allocation method for outbound containers, European Journal of Operational Research 148, 92-101.
• Kim, K.Y., Kim, K.H. (1997), A routing algorithm for a single transfer crane to load export containers onto a containership, Computers and Industrial Engineering 33(3-4), 673-676.
• Kim, K.Y., Kim, K.H. (1999), A routing algorithm for a single straddle carrier to load export containers onto a containership, International Journal of Production Economics 59, 425-433.
• Kozan, E., Preston, P. (1999), Genetic algorithms to schedule container transfers at multimodal terminals, International Transactions in Operational Research 6, 311-329.
• Ng, W.C. (2005), Crane scheduling in container yards with inter-crane interference, European Journal of Operational Research 164, 64-78.
• Taleb-Ibrahimi, M., De Castilho, B., Daganzo, C.F. (1993), Storage space vs handling work in container terminals, Transportation Research B 27, 13-32.
Zhang, C., Wan, Y.W., Liu, J., Linn, R.J. (2002), Dynamic crane deployment in container storage yards, Transportation Research Part B 36, 537-555.

Inter terminal transport and other modes of transportation

• Ballis, A., Abacoumkin, C. (1996), A container terminal simulation model with animation capabilities, Journal of Advanced Transportation 30(1), 37-57.
• Bostel, N., Dejax, P. (1998), Models and algorithms for container allocation problems on trains in a rapid transshipment shunting yard, Transportation Science 32(4), 370-379.
• Duinkerken, M.B., Ottjes, J.A., Evers, J.J.M., Kurstjens, S.T.G.L., Dekker, R., Dellaert, N.P. (1996), Simulation studies on inter terminal transport at the Maasvlakte, TRAIL Proceedings 2nd TRAIL Congress 1996.
• Kozan, E. (1997), Increasing the operational efficiency of container terminals in Australia, Journal of the Operational Research Society 48(2), 151-161.
• Kurstjens, S.T.G.L., Dekker, R., Dellaert, N.P., Duinkerken, M.B., Ottjes, J.A., Evers, J.J.M. (1996), Planning of inter terminal transport at the Maasvlakte, TRAIL Proceedings 2nd TRAIL Congress 1996.
• Newman, A.M., Yano, C.A. (2000), Scheduling direct and indirect trains and containers in an intermodal setting, Transportation Science 34(3), 256-270.
• Van Horssen, W. (1996), The trouble with growth, Cargo Systems February, 51-52.

Complete container terminals

• Abacoumkin, C., Ballis, A. (2004), Development of an expert system for the evaluation of conventional and innovative technologies in the intermodal transport area, European Journal of Operational Research 152, 410-419.
• Bish, E.K. (2003), A multiple-crane-constrained scheduling problem in a container terminal, European Journal of Operational Research 144, 83-107.
• Gambardella, L.M., Rizzoli, A.E., Zaffalon, M. (1998), Simulation and planning of an intermodal container terminal, Simulation 71(2), 107-116.
• Hartmann, S. (2004), A general framework for scheduling equipment and manpower at container terminals, OR Spectrum 26, 51-74.
• Kia, M., Shayan, E., Ghotb, F. (2002), Investigation of port capacity under a new approach by computer simulation, Computers and Industrial Engineering 42, 533-540.
• Kozan, E. (1997), Comparison of analytical and simulation planning models of seaport container terminals, Transportation Planning and Technology 20, 235-248.
• Kozan, E. (2000), Optimising container transfers at multimodal terminals, Mathematical and Computer Modelling 31, 235-243.
• Meersmans, P.J.M. (2002), Optimization of container handling systems, Ph.D. Thesis, Tinbergen Institute 271, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Meersmans, P.J.M., Vis, I.F.A., De Koster, M.B.M., Dekker, R. (1999), FAMAS-NewCon, Een model voor korte-termijn stacking. Modelbeschrijving, Report Econometric Institute EI-9942/A, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Meersmans, P.J.M., Wagelmans, A.P.M. (2001), Effective algorithms for integrated scheduling of handling equipment at automated container terminals, ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2001-36-LIS, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
• Merkuryev, G., Merkuryev, Y., Tolujev, J. (2000), Computer simulation and metamodelling of logistics processes at a container terminal.
• Merkuryev, Y., Tolujew, J., Blümer, E., Novitsky, L., Ginters, E., Vitorova, E., Merkuryeva, G., Pronins, J. (1998), A modelling and simulation methodology for managing the Riga Harbour container terminal, Simulation 71(2), 84-95.
• Ramani, K.V. (1996), An interactive simulation model for the logistics planning of container operations in seaports, Simulation 66(5), 291-300.
• Shabayek, A.A., Yeung, W.W. (2002), A simulation model for the Kwai Chung container terminals in Hong Kong, European Journal of Operational Research 140, 1-11.
• Van der Meer, R., Vis, I., De Koster, R., Meersmans, P., Dekker, R. (1999), Containerterminals in het Famas NewCon concept, in: SIMLOG Simulatie van Logistieke Ketens Rond de Haven, Verspui, L., Van Nunen, J. (eds.), Eburon, Delft, 89-104.
• Van Hee, K.M., Huitink, B., Leegwater, D.K. (1988), Portplan, decision support system for port terminals, European Journal of Operational Research 34, 249-261.
• Van Hee, K.M., Wijbrands, R.J. (1988), Decision support system for container terminal planning, European Journal of Operational Research 34, 262-272.
• Yun, W.Y., Choi, Y.S. (1999), A simulation model for container-terminal operation analysis using an object-oriented approach, International Journal of Production Economics 59, 221-230.

Remaining literature

• Airriess, C.A. (2001), Regional production, information-communication technology and the developmental state: the rise of Singapore as a global container hub, Geoforum 32, 235-254.
• Agerschou, H., Lundgren, H., Sörensen, T., Ernst, T., Korsgaard, J., Schmidt, L.R., Chi, W.K. (1983), Planning and Design of Ports and Marine Terminals, John Wiley \ Sons, Chichester.
• Bortfeldt, A., Gehring, H. (2001), A hybrid genetic algorithm for the container loading problem, European Journal of Operational Research 131, 143-161.
• Chen, C.S., Lee, M.S., Shen, Q.S. (1995), An analytical model for the container loading problem, European Journal of Operational Research 80, 68-76.
• Cheung, R.K., Chen, C.Y. (1998), A two-stage stochastic network model and solution methods for the dynamic empty container allocation problem, Transportation Science 32(2), 142-162.
• Crainic, T.G., Gendreau, M., Dejax, P. (1993), Dynamic and stochastic models for the allocation of empty containers, Operations Research 41, 102-126.
• Cullinane, K., Song, D.W., Gray, R. (2002), A stochastic frontier model of the efficiency of major container terminals in Asia: assessing the influence of administrative and ownership structures, Transportation Research Part A 36, 743-762.
• Davies, A.P., Bischoff, E.E. (1999), Weight distribution considerations in container loading, European Journal of Operational Research 114, 509-527.
• Hartmann, S. (2004), Generating scenarios for simulation and optimization of container terminal logistics, OR Spectrum 26, 171-192.
• Johansen, R.S. (1999), Gate solutions, paper presented at the Containerport and Terminal Performance Conference, February, Amsterdam.
• Konings, J.W. (1996), Integrated centres for the transshipment, storage, collection and distribution of goods, Transport Policy 3(1/2), 3-11.
• Leeper, J.H. (1988), Integrated automated terminal operations, Transportation Research Circular 33, 23-28.
• Rath, E. (1973), Container Systems, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
• Sambracos, E., Paravantis, J.A., Tarantilis,C.D., Kiranoudis, C.T. (2004), Dispatching of small containers via coastal freight liners: The case of Aegean Sea, European Journal of Operational Research 152, 365-381.
• Scheithauer, G. (1999), LP-based bounds for the container and multi-container loading problem, International Transactions in Operational Research 6, 199-213.
• Shen, W.S., Khoong, C.M. (1995), A DSS for empty container distribution planning, Decision Support Systems 15, 75-82.
• Vis, I.F.A. (2002), Planning and Control Concepts for Material Handling Systems, ERIM Ph.D. Series Research in Management 14, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• Wan, T.B., Wah, E.L.C., Meng, L.C. (1992), The use of information technology by the port of Singapore authority, World Development 20(12), 1785-1795.