Modeling interfaces of hinterland transportation and marine logistics in optimizing ocean container terminal efficiency

工作目的研究的中心目的是加深对可用于提高集装箱码头物流效率的举措的认识。最直接感兴趣的举措是那些与CT边界外土地(即CT腹地地区)上的CT业务和运输业务之间的联系有关的举措。工作性质/成果大部分工作将涉及设计、建造和研究现代集装箱码头的计算机模拟模型。使用有效的计算机模拟模型将使研究人员能够针对两个广泛的结果进行广泛和深入的实验：(A)衡量许多潜在的提高效率的举措的有效性；(B)澄清CT的细节如何影响特定举措可能产生的净效益。这些结果背后的关键问题的三个具体例子是：(1)特定水平的内陆卡车运输公司遵守在集装箱码头收集和/或交付集装箱的约定后，物流效率可能下降的百分比是多少？(2)通过对货运站和内陆卡车运输公司的业务产生的影响，提前通知船舶到达延迟将在多大程度上改变效率？(3)内陆卡车运输公司之间在特定业务协作水平下(例如，通过共享集装箱和/或车辆进行协作)在物流效率方面可能提高的百分比是多少？这项工作的重要性通过解决上述问题，这项研究将扩展关于CT操作和后勤的知识体系。回答这些问题对该领域很重要，因为：(A)缺乏答案代表了研究文献中的重大差距；(B)这些问题代表了与货柜码头物流效率有关的各方所关心的问题，即远洋承运人、港口运营商、内陆卡车运输公司和政府机构等利益攸关方。鉴于CTS在国际供应链中的中心地位，加拿大希望作为通过这些供应链流动的贸易中不可或缺的参与者实现繁荣，这突显了这项工作对加拿大的重要性。持续实现这一愿望将对加拿大人的日常生活产生积极影响，但这需要高度重视不断提高加拿大货运站的后勤效率。为此，研究目的与加拿大在国际供应链领域的目标之一是一致的。

Purpose of the work The central purpose of the research is to deepen knowledge of initiatives that can be deployed to enhance the logistical efficiency of container terminals (CTs). The initiatives of most direct interest are those that relate to the link between a CT’s operations and transportation operations on lands just outside a CT’s boundary (i.e., the CT hinterland area). Nature/outcomes of the work The bulk of the work to be done will involve designing, building, and studying computer simulation models of modern container terminals. Working with valid computer simulation models will enable the research personnel to conduct extensive and intensive experiments targeted at two broad outcomes: (a) gauging the efficacy of many potential efficiency-enhancing initiatives and (b) clarifying how the particulars of a CT affect the net benefit that a given initiative is likely to produce. Three specific examples of the key questions underlying those outcomes are: (i) What is the likely percentage drop in logistical efficiency for a given level of hinterland trucking firm compliance with appointments to collect and/or deliver containers at the CT? (ii) By how much will early notification of delayed ship arrivals change efficiency through the resulting impacts on operations by the CT and by hinterland trucking firms? (iii) What is the likely percentage rise in logistical efficiency for a given level of operational collaboration among hinterland trucking firms (e.g., collaborate by sharing containers and/or vehicles)? Importance of the work By addressing questions such as those stated above, the research will extend the body of knowledge on CT operations and logistics. Answering those questions is important to the field because (a) the lack of answers represents major gaps in the research literature and (b) those questions typify what matters to parties with a stake in the logistical efficiency of CTs; i.e., stakeholders such as ocean carriers, port operators, hinterland trucking firms, and government agencies. Given the centrality of CTs in international supply chains, the work’s importance to Canada is underscored by the nation’s wish to prosper as an indispensable participant in trade that flows through those supply chains. Sustained fulfillment of that wish will positively impact the daily lives of Canadians but it requires that a high priority be placed on continuously improving the logistical efficiency of Canada’s CTs. To this end, the research aims are consistent with one of Canada’s aims in the international supply chain arena.