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Application of El Farol model for managing marine terminal gate congestion

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  • Sharif, Omor
  • Huynh, Nathan
  • Vidal, Jose M.

Abstract

Truck queuing at marine terminal gates has long been recognized as a source of emissions problem due to the large number of trucks idling. For this reason, there is a great deal of interest among the different stakeholders to lessen the severity of the problem. An approach being experimented by some terminals to reduce truck queuing at the terminal is to provide live views of their gates via webcams. An assumption made by the terminals in this method is that truck dispatchers and drivers will make rational decisions regarding their departure times such that there will be less fluctuations in truck arrivals at the terminal based on the live information. However, it is clear that if dispatchers send trucks to the terminal whenever the truck queues are short and not send trucks when the truck queues are long, it could lead to a perpetual whip lash effect. This study explores the predictive strategies that need to be made by the various dispatchers to achieve the desired effects (i.e. steady arrival of trucks and hence less queuing at the seaport terminal gates). This problem is studied with the use of an agent-based simulation model and the solution to the well known El Farol Bar problem. Results demonstrate that truck depots can manage (without any collaboration with one another) to minimize congestion at seaport terminal gates by using the provided real-time gate congestion information and some simple logics for estimating the expected truck wait time.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharif, Omor & Huynh, Nathan & Vidal, Jose M., 2011. "Application of El Farol model for managing marine terminal gate congestion," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 81-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:32:y:2011:i:1:p:81-89
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2011.06.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lange, Ann-Kathrin & Nellen, Nicole & Jahn, Carlos, 2022. "Truck appointment systems: How can they be improved and what are their limits?," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Kersten, Wolfgang & Jahn, Carlos & Blecker, Thorsten & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Changing Tides: The New Role of Resilience and Sustainability in Logistics and Supply Chain Management – Innovative Approaches for the Shift to a New , volume 33, pages 615-655, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    2. Enrico Musso & Anna Sciomachen, 0. "Impact of megaships on the performance of port container terminals," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 0, pages 1-14.
    3. Mengzhi Ma & Houming Fan & Xiaodan Jiang & Zhenfeng Guo, 2019. "Truck Arrivals Scheduling with Vessel Dependent Time Windows to Reduce Carbon Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-26, November.
    4. Li, Dongjun & Dong, Jing-Xin & Song, Dong-Ping & Hicks, Christian & Singh, Surya Prakash, 2020. "Optimal contract design for the exchange of tradable truck permits at multiterminal ports," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    5. Enrico Musso & Anna Sciomachen, 2020. "Impact of megaships on the performance of port container terminals," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(3), pages 432-445, September.
    6. Lange, Ann-Kathrin & Schwientek, Anne Kathrina & Jahn, Carlos, 2017. "Reducing truck congestion at ports - classification and trends," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Jahn, Carlos & Kersten, Wolfgang & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Digitalization in Maritime and Sustainable Logistics: City Logistics, Port Logistics and Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Digital Age. Proce, volume 24, pages 37-58, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    7. Jacobsson, Stefan & Arnäs, Per Olof & Stefansson, Gunnar, 2018. "Differentiation of access management services at seaport terminals: Facilitating potential improvements for road hauliers," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 256-264.
    8. Li, Shuqin & Jia, Shuai & Tao, Yi & Lin, Xudong, 2024. "Gate appointment design in a container terminal: A robust optimization approach," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    9. Amir Gharehgozli & Nima Zaerpour & Rene Koster, 2020. "Container terminal layout design: transition and future," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(4), pages 610-639, December.
    10. Orlando Marco Belcore & Massimo Di Gangi & Antonio Polimeni, 2023. "Connected Vehicles and Digital Infrastructures: A Framework for Assessing the Port Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Wenrui Qu & Tao Tao & Bo Xie & Yi Qi, 2021. "A State-Dependent Approximation Method for Estimating Truck Queue Length at Marine Terminals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    12. Phan, Mai-Ha & Kim, Kap Hwan, 2015. "Negotiating truck arrival times among trucking companies and a container terminal," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 132-144.

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