A simulation model for intra-terminal transport of Container Terminal operations system

The research is based on investigating and studying various real container terminals operations systems. Firstly, intra-terminal transport is defined in the container terminal operations system that is a discrete event dynamic system and its entities, events, activities and process are analyzed. Secondly, based on identifying the various congestions, the simulation model is proposed. The cycle-time consists of the four stochastic variables: the non-stop traveling time of the cycle, the waiting time at berth, the waiting time at yard, and the abnormal waiting time in a cycle due to congestion or operations management. Finally, container terminals of phase I of Shanghai Yangshan Port and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Container Terminal are chosen as a case to study how to determine the quay-yard cycle time and the operation-line productivities in the quay-yard cycle for a planning terminal that has not been established. This research indicates that this simulation model for intra-terminal transport can be applicable to any of the five typical container-terminal handling systems and the empirical equation obtained in case study can make sense for the simulation model for inter-terminal transport.