S. Aravindan ¹, K. Thiruvenkatasamy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Harbour and Ocean Engineering, AMET University, 135, East Coast Road, Kanathur, Chennai - 603112, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objectives: Container terminals are essential intermodal interfaces in the global transportation network. Efficient container handling at terminals is important in reducing transportation costs and keeping shipping schedules. The present analysis describes these problems within the scope of container terminal modeling. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Basic formulation of the problem is stated as two-machine flow shop problem. The well-known maximum travelling salesman problem (Max TSP) has been applied in this study. Max TSP can be solved as a TSP by replacing each edge cost by its additive inverse, since, there is a different value for unloading stack i while loading stack j and loading stack i while unloading stack j; this model corresponds to the Asymmetric Travelling Salesman Problem (ATSP). Findings: It is found that, there is an essential need for improvements and optimization of all aspects in the container transportation chains. For the real life systems of this type, this problem has been solved optimally. Significant possibilities for time savings have been arrived in this study. For real life case, where the reloading is performed on two barges placed side by side (8 stacks in the bay, 11 bays, 4 containers in the stack) time savings as a function of the terminal length are presented. The time saving with respect to number of rows inside the container yard is presented. Simulation models of container cranes demonstrate significant time savings, if double cycling is applied. It is showed that application of the double cycling can result in time savings of 12 to 27 % depending on the system parameters. This analysis is based on discrete event simulation and analytical optimization methods. Application/Improvement: Good planning of container terminal operations reduces waiting time for liner ships. Reducing the waiting time increases customer satisfaction and improves the terminal productivity which gives the container terminal an advantage over its competitors.

Keywords

Container Terminals, Modeling, Mathematical Models, Optimization, Scheduling, Simulations.

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P. Mohamed Rajab ¹, K. Thiruvenkatasamy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Harbor and Ocean Engineering, AMET University, Plot No.135, East Coast Road, Kanathur, Chennai - 603112, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objectives: In the present investigation, the shoreline change studies were carried out along the Pudhuchery coast using an online model such as DHI-LITPACK modules suite. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The study area covers 5 km on the southern side and 10 km on the northern side of the Ariyankuppam river port breakwaters. One year measured data off Puducherry coast at 15 m water depth was used for the estimation of littoral drift and to predict the shoreline changes along the Puducherry coast. The predicted shoreline changes using one-line model show good agreement with historical shoreline changes along the Puducherry coast. Findings: The shoreline change studies with existing coastal structures shows that, on the seawall northern end, the shoreline experiences erosion up to 10m, 20m, 35m, 45m, 55m and 60m after a period of 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years respectively and the erosion is noticed for a distance of 1400m along the coast. The shoreline changes study with sand bypassing the net annual littoral sediment of 0.13 x106 m3 from the southern side of the south port breakwater to the northern side of the north breakwater show that shoreline erosion is limited to 20 m and extends 500 m along the coast on the northern end of the seawall. In order to avoid shoreline erosion along the Puducherry coast, the initially implemented sand bypassing operation with beach nourishment has to be carried out with the sand bypassing volume of 0.13 x106 m3 per year at the rate of 0.0188 x 106 m3 per month from March to September. Application/Improvements: After monitoring shoreline behavior with sand bypassing operation for few years, a long term arrangement can be worked out. Moreover, the study indicates that the DHI-LITPACK modules are suitable tools for the estimation of littoral drift and shoreline change studies.

Keywords

Breakwaters, DHI-LITPACK, Littoral Drift, One-Line Model, Puducherry Coast, Shoreline Change.

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