Optimizing Empty Container Logistics: An Overview of Repositioning Strategies

Optimizing Empty Container Logistics: An Overview of Repositioning Strategies PDF Author: Egor Sarafanov
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The imbalances in world trade lead to significant challenges in the container shipping industry, resulting in large differences in import and export rates among locations. Consequently, empty surplus containers need to be repositioned to areas where they are needed, incurring substantial costs and operational inefficiencies. This master's thesis takes on the systematic review and organization of existing strategies, with a particular focus on optimization models. Leveraging Dr. Kris Braekers' Ph.D. thesis (2013), titled "Optimization of Empty Container Movements in Intermodal Transport" and relevant sources in the field, this research critically examines methodologies and identifies commonalities, patterns, and gaps in empty container repositioning. The objective is to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of this critical issue and provide valuable insights to enrich the knowledge base. By addressing the complexities of empty container repositioning, this thesis seeks to help container shipping companies reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.

Optimizing Empty Container Logistics: An Overview of Repositioning Strategies

Optimizing Empty Container Logistics: An Overview of Repositioning Strategies PDF Author: Egor Sarafanov
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The imbalances in world trade lead to significant challenges in the container shipping industry, resulting in large differences in import and export rates among locations. Consequently, empty surplus containers need to be repositioned to areas where they are needed, incurring substantial costs and operational inefficiencies. This master's thesis takes on the systematic review and organization of existing strategies, with a particular focus on optimization models. Leveraging Dr. Kris Braekers' Ph.D. thesis (2013), titled "Optimization of Empty Container Movements in Intermodal Transport" and relevant sources in the field, this research critically examines methodologies and identifies commonalities, patterns, and gaps in empty container repositioning. The objective is to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of this critical issue and provide valuable insights to enrich the knowledge base. By addressing the complexities of empty container repositioning, this thesis seeks to help container shipping companies reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.

Modelling Empty Container Repositioning Logistics

Modelling Empty Container Repositioning Logistics PDF Author: Dong-Ping Song
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030933830
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 174

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Book Description
The book takes the inventory control perspective to tackle empty container repositioning logistics problems in regional transportation systems by explicitly considering the features such as demand imbalance over space, dynamic operations over time, uncertainty in demand and transport, and container leasing phenomenon. The book has the following unique features. First, it provides a discussion of broad empty equipment logistics including empty freight vehicle redistribution, empty passenger vehicle redistribution, empty bike repositioning, empty container chassis repositioning, and empty container repositioning (ECR) problems. The similarity and unique characteristics of ECR compared to other empty equipment repositioning problems are explained. Second, we adopt the stochastic dynamic programming approach to tackle the ECR problems, which offers an algorithmic strategy to characterize the optimal policy and captures the sequential decision-making phenomenon in anticipation of uncertainties over time and space. Third, we are able to establish closed-form solutions and structural properties of the optimal ECR policies in relatively simple transportation systems. Such properties can then be utilized to construct threshold-type ECR policies for more complicated transportation systems. In fact, the threshold-type ECR policies resemble the well-known (s, S) and (s, Q) policies in inventory control theory. These policies have the advantages of being decentralized, easy to understand, easy to operate, quick response to random events, and minimal on-line computation and communication. Fourth, several sophisticated optimization techniques such as approximate dynamic programming, simulation-based meta-heuristics, stochastic approximation, perturbation analysis, and ordinal optimization methods are introduced to solve the complex stochastic optimization problems. The book will be of interest to researchers and professionals in logistics, transport, supply chain, and operations research.

Optimizing Empty Container Repositioning in a Truck-rail Intermodal Network

Optimizing Empty Container Repositioning in a Truck-rail Intermodal Network PDF Author: Kathryn Olivia Collins
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The geographic imbalance of freight moved by the transportation industry requires repositioning of empty containers. Empty container repositioning (ECR) describes the strategy for empty container relocation to reduce cost and satisfy demand. ECR costs the transportation industry billions of dollars per year worldwide, so the efficient and effective execution of ECR is necessary for maximal equipment utilization. The trucking industry is greatly impacted by ECR decisions because of the high volumes of freight moved every year, leading to thousands of empty containers in need of relocation every week. The trucking industry is incentivized to partner with other transportation modes, considered intermodal transport, for ECR movements because of other modes' lower transit costs. A breadth of research exists for ECR optimization for intermodal ocean networks, but trucking industries operate cross-country and require a low-cost transcontinental solution. Intermodal railroad networks are the ideal ECR solution for trucking companies, but a lack of research exists addressing ECR flow optimization in a strictly truck-rail network. This thesis focuses on an optimization model for the ECR decisions of a trucking company utilizing a truck-rail intermodal network. Imbalances between inbound and outbound freight flows in metropolitan areas result in sources and demands for empty containers across the network. Empty containers are repositioned via railroad to fulfill demand between these areas. The trucking company's primary goal is to fulfill demand for empty containers while minimizing fees paid to the railroads and its own equipment relocation costs. The research objective of this thesis is to develop an optimization model to support ECR decisions for realistic truck-rail intermodal systems. The model is demonstrated using data from a leading trucking company in North America. Comparing the optimization model results to the plans developed by the company's empty-planning team shows that the model produces high-quality plans, achieves cost savings, can be solved efficiently, and presents novel solutions to the business.

Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics

Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics PDF Author: Chung-Yee Lee
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319118919
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 556

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Book Description
This book is focused on the impact of ocean transport logistics on global supply chains. It is the first book solely dedicated to the topic, linking the interaction of parties along this chain, including shippers, terminal operators and line carriers. While ocean container transport logistics has been greatly studied, there are many important issues that have yet to receive the attention they deserve. The editors and contributing authors of Ocean Container Transport Logistics: Making Global Supply Chain Effective seek to address these topics and shed new light on the subject. The book is divided into three parts. Part I examines the innovation, trends, competition and business model of container terminal operations. In Part II, the book looks at how tactical and operational management is used in shipping liners. The chapters cover topics such as empty container repositioning, slow steaming, routing, network design and disruption management. Finally Part III explores at shippers and global supply chain management, with chapters on transportation service procurement, hinterland transportation, green corridors, as well as competition and co-operation in maritime logistics operations. The eighteen chapters of the book all highlight the immediate effect of ocean transport logistics on global supply chain.

Container Logistics and Maritime Transport

Container Logistics and Maritime Transport PDF Author: Dong-Ping Song
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000374602
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 415

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Book Description
This book provides a coherent and systematic view of the key concepts, principles, and techniques in maritime container transport and logistics chains including all the main segments: international maritime trade and logistics, freight logistics, container logistics, vessel logistics, port and terminal management, and sustainability issues in maritime transport. Container Logistics and Maritime Transport emphasizes analytical methods and current optimization models to tackle challenging issues in maritime transport and logistics. This book takes a holistic approach to cover all the main segments of the container shipping supply chains to achieve an efficient and effective logistics service system across the entire global transport chain. Sustainability issues such as social concern and carbon emissions from shipping and ports are also discussed. Each maritime transport segment is addressed using an approach from qualitative/descriptive analytics to quantitative/prescriptive analytics. Cutting-edge optimization models are presented and explained to tackle various strategic, tactical, and operational planning problems. The book will help readers better understand operations management in global maritime container transport chain. It will also provide practical principles and effective techniques and tools for researchers to push forward the frontiers of knowledge and for practitioners to implement decision support systems. It will be directly relevant to academic courses related to maritime transport, maritime logistics, transport management, international shipping, port management, container shipping, container logistics, shipping supply chain, and international logistics.

Empty Container Logistics Optimization

Empty Container Logistics Optimization PDF Author: Bin Hong Alex Lee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 93

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Book Description
Empty container logistics is a huge cost component in an ocean carrier's operations. Managing this cost is important to ensure profitability of the business. This thesis proposes a 3-stage framework to handle empty container logistics with cost management as the objective. The first stage studies the forecasting of laden shipment demand, which provides the empty container supply requirement. Based on the supply needs, the problem of optimizing the fleet size was then addressed by using an inventory model to establish the optimal safety stock level. Simulations were used to understand the sensitivity of safety stock to desired service level. The final stage involves using mathematical programming to optimize repositioning costs incurred by carriers to ship empty containers to places which need them due to trade imbalance. At the same time, costs that are incurred due to leasing and storage are considered. A comparison between just-in-time and pre-emptive replenishment was performed and impact due to uncertainties is investigated. The framework is then implemented in a Decision Support System for an actual ocean carrier and is used to assist the empty container logistics team to take the best course of action in daily operations. The results from the optimizations show that there are opportunities for the carrier to reduce its fleet size and cut empty container logistics related costs.

Managing the Complexity of Empty Container Movements Through Repositioning Strategies and Routing Practices Under Certain Demand and Supply

Managing the Complexity of Empty Container Movements Through Repositioning Strategies and Routing Practices Under Certain Demand and Supply PDF Author: Alaa Abdelshafie
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Over the past decades, container transportation management has become an important part of the global maritime industry. Due to an ever-increasing movement of containers across the globe in line with the economic boom, the trade imbalance and issues related to empty containers have become inevitable. The accumulation of empty containers in specific ports not only causes a waste of money but also increases the environmental footprint. Accordingly, the urgent need for empty container management has been gaining more attention than ever before, as the shipping companies recognized that more revenues are always derived from a good repositioning strategy. In this respect, this thesis described state-of-the-art of empty container management, focusing on the practices concerning the movement of empty containers that are varied between organizational policies, technical solutions, and optimization applications. With the development of computer-aided systems, the combination of optimization and simulation models has been proposed to tackle the maritime empty container problem. The thesis shows how the strengths of optimization-based simulation can be integrated to provide high-quality solutions with low computational costs. Agent-based modelling was developed to model the global movements of empty containers, providing realistic details of interactions among entities and characteristics of components within the system. The model was applied between ports in the Middle East and Asia for one of the biggest shipping lines worldwide. By using simulated annealing (SA), the best sequence for moving containers can be determined. The results comparison demonstrate that the proposed optimised repositioning strategy can significantly reduce the shipping line's costs and make full use of empty containers in the planning horizon.

Empty Container Repositioning

Empty Container Repositioning PDF Author: Alex Bin Hong Lee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Containerization
Languages : en
Pages : 87

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Book Description


Empty-container Repositioning and Leasing

Empty-container Repositioning and Leasing PDF Author: Humberto Florez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Containerization
Languages : en
Pages : 126

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Book Description


Container Logistics and Maritime Transport

Container Logistics and Maritime Transport PDF Author: Dong-Ping Song
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000374610
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 285

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Book Description
This book provides a coherent and systematic view of the key concepts, principles, and techniques in maritime container transport and logistics chains including all the main segments: international maritime trade and logistics, freight logistics, container logistics, vessel logistics, port and terminal management, and sustainability issues in maritime transport. Container Logistics and Maritime Transport emphasizes analytical methods and current optimization models to tackle challenging issues in maritime transport and logistics. This book takes a holistic approach to cover all the main segments of the container shipping supply chains to achieve an efficient and effective logistics service system across the entire global transport chain. Sustainability issues such as social concern and carbon emissions from shipping and ports are also discussed. Each maritime transport segment is addressed using an approach from qualitative/descriptive analytics to quantitative/prescriptive analytics. Cutting-edge optimization models are presented and explained to tackle various strategic, tactical, and operational planning problems. The book will help readers better understand operations management in global maritime container transport chain. It will also provide practical principles and effective techniques and tools for researchers to push forward the frontiers of knowledge and for practitioners to implement decision support systems. It will be directly relevant to academic courses related to maritime transport, maritime logistics, transport management, international shipping, port management, container shipping, container logistics, shipping supply chain, and international logistics.