Container Terminal Priorities
The current market situation of dwindling margins and tightening delivery windows has increased complexity in container terminal planning & scheduling processes. Therefore, the efficient use of resources is a top priority. An advanced planning & scheduling solution holds a substantial cost savings potential for planning departments while also boosting delivery reliability and flexibility.
CONTAINER TERMINAL PLANNING: KEY PROCESSES
If we look at a container terminal as a system of material flow, it can be split up into three sections or areas:
- The gate and landside operations where containers are handled by trucks and trains.
- The yardside where full and empty containers are stored temporarily.
- The quayside is where containers are loaded and unloaded on and off vessels.
Additionally, there are two operations visible in container terminals: discharging and loading of vessels.
CONTAINER TERMINAL PLANNING: KEY COMPONENTS
The key components in discharging and loading operations are (1) vessels and external transport (trucks, rail), (2) container terminal infrastructure like berth availability, yard, handling equipment (such as STS cranes, straddle carriers, automated stacking cranes), internal transport vehicles and (3) labour.
CONTAINER TERMINAL PLANNING: KEY AREAS
Several key areas come together when container terminals plan their optimal schedule:
- Berths
- Vessels and cranes
- Yard
- Vehicles
- Workforce
In general, planning and (detailed) scheduling of container terminal processes are characterised by complex business logic and numerous limitations as well as production disruptions (e.g., equipment breakdown), equipment maintenance and vessel schedule unreliability.
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Understand the main drivers of container terminal operations
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Get a full picture of key processes and factors that determine the container terminal planning process
- Uncover areas of potential process optimization