Arrival Processes for Vessels in a Port Simulation

20 Pages Posted: 6 Nov 2003

See all articles by Eelco van Asperen

Eelco van Asperen

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business

Rommert Dekker

Erasmus University, Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics ; Econometric Institute; Erasmus University, Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM) ; Tinbergen Institute Rotterdam

Mark Polman

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business

Henk de Swaan Arons

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business

Ludo Waltman

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business

Date Written: 17 2003, 10

Abstract

Ports provide jetty facilities for ships to load and unload their cargo. Jetty capacity is costly and therefore limited, causing delays for arriving ships. However, ship delays are also costly, so terminal operators attempt to min imize their number and duration. Here, simulation has proved to be a very suitable tool. However, in port simulation models, the impact of the arrival process of ships on the model outcomes tends to be underestimated. This report considers three arrival processes: stock-controlled, equidistant, and uncontrolled. We assess how their deployment in a port simulation model, based on data from a real case study, affects the efficiency of the loading and unloading process, making a case for careful modeling of arrival processes in port simulations. Uncontrolled, which is an assumed arrival process property in many client-oriented simulations, actually performs worst in terms of both ship delays and required storage capacity. Stock-controlled arrivals perform best with regard to large vessel delays and storage capacity. Additional control of the arrival process through the application of a priority scheme in processing ships further impacts efficiency in all three cases. Ports provide jetty facilities for ships to load and unload their cargo. Jetty capacity is costly and therefore limited, causing delays for arriving ships. However, ship delays are also costly, so terminal operators attempt to min imize their number and duration. Here, simulation has proved to be a very suitable tool. However, in port simulation models, the impact of the arrival process of ships on the model outcomes tends to be underestimated. This report considers three arrival processes: stock-controlled, equidistant, and uncontrolled. We assess how their deployment in a port simulation model, based on data from a real case study, affects the efficiency of the loading and unloading process, making a case for careful modeling of arrival processes in port simulations. Uncontrolled, which is an assumed arrival process property in many client-oriented simulations,actually performs worst in terms of both ship delays and required storage capacity.Stock-controlled arrivals perform best with regard to large vessel delays and storage capacity. Additional control of the arrival process through the application of a priority scheme in processing ships further impacts efficiency in all three cases.

Keywords: port simulation, discrete-event simulation, arrival processes, port logistics

JEL Classification: M, M11, R4, L92

Suggested Citation

Asperen, Eelco van and Dekker, Rommert and Dekker, Rommert and Polman, Mark and de Swaan Arons, Henk and Waltman, Ludo, Arrival Processes for Vessels in a Port Simulation (17 2003, 10). ERIM Report Series Reference No. ERS-2003-067-LIS, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=463803

Eelco van Asperen

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands
+31 10 408 1182 (Phone)
+31 10 408 9640 (Fax)

Rommert Dekker

Erasmus University, Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands
+31 10 408 1274 (Phone)
+31 10 408 9162 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.few.eur.nl/few/people/rdekker/

Econometric Institute ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.eur.nl/people/rommert-dekker

Erasmus University, Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM)

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands

Tinbergen Institute Rotterdam ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands

Mark Polman

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands
+31 10 408 1182 (Phone)
+31 10 408 9640 (Fax)

Henk De Swaan Arons (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands
+31 10 408 1182 (Phone)
+31 10 408 9640 (Fax)

Ludo Waltman

Erasmus University Rotterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands
+31 10 408 1182 (Phone)
+31 10 408 9640 (Fax)

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