IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transe/v130y2019icp248-272.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Combinable containers: A container innovation to save container fleet and empty container repositioning costs

Author

Listed:
  • Shintani, Koichi
  • Konings, Rob
  • Imai, Akio

Abstract

Combinable containers can either be used as a standard 20 ft or in combined state as a 40 ft container by altering the dimensional to match the cargo size. This paper examines the viability of combinable containers for saving the container related costs. We present a model of a minimum cost multi-commodity network flow problem that can be used to simultaneously determine the fleet sizes of standard and combinable containers and their empty container allocation/repositioning. Based on numerical experiments, we discovered that mixed use of both types of containers can save a significant portion of container related cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Shintani, Koichi & Konings, Rob & Imai, Akio, 2019. "Combinable containers: A container innovation to save container fleet and empty container repositioning costs," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 248-272.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:130:y:2019:i:c:p:248-272
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2019.09.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1366554519303771
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tre.2019.09.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Shuaian & Meng, Qiang, 2012. "Liner ship fleet deployment with container transshipment operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 470-484.
    2. Dong-ping Song & Jing-xin Dong, 2011. "Flow balancing-based empty container repositioning in typical shipping service routes," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 13(1), pages 61-77, March.
    3. Koichi Shintani & Rob Konings & Akio Imai, 2012. "The effect of foldable containers on the costs of container fleet management in liner shipping networks," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 14(4), pages 455-479, December.
    4. Imai, Akio & Shintani, Koichi & Papadimitriou, Stratos, 2009. "Multi-port vs. Hub-and-Spoke port calls by containerships," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(5), pages 740-757, September.
    5. Zhang, Ruiyou & Zhao, Haishu & Moon, Ilkyeong, 2018. "Range-based truck-state transition modeling method for foldable container drayage services," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 225-239.
    6. Shintani, Koichi & Imai, Akio & Nishimura, Etsuko & Papadimitriou, Stratos, 2007. "The container shipping network design problem with empty container repositioning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 39-59, January.
    7. Meng, Qiang & Wang, Shuaian, 2011. "Liner shipping service network design with empty container repositioning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(5), pages 695-708, September.
    8. Dong, Jing-Xin & Song, Dong-Ping, 2009. "Container fleet sizing and empty repositioning in liner shipping systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(6), pages 860-877, November.
    9. Bell, Michael G.H. & Liu, Xin & Angeloudis, Panagiotis & Fonzone, Achille & Hosseinloo, Solmaz Haji, 2011. "A frequency-based maritime container assignment model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(8), pages 1152-1161, September.
    10. Moon, Ilkyeong & Do Ngoc, Anh-Dung & Konings, Rob, 2013. "Foldable and standard containers in empty container repositioning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 107-124.
    11. Song, Dong-Ping & Dong, Jing-Xin, 2012. "Cargo routing and empty container repositioning in multiple shipping service routes," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1556-1575.
    12. Ilkyeong Moon & Hwajin Hong, 2016. "Repositioning of empty containers using both standard and foldable containers," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 18(1), pages 61-77, March.
    13. Rob Konings, 2005. "Foldable Containers to Reduce the Costs of Empty Transport? A Cost–Benefit Analysis from a Chain and Multi-Actor Perspective," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 7(3), pages 223-249, September.
    14. Shintani, Koichi & Konings, Rob & Imai, Akio, 2010. "The impact of foldable containers on container fleet management costs in hinterland transport," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(5), pages 750-763, September.
    15. Akio Imai & Fausto Rivera, 2001. "Strategic fleet size planning for maritime refrigerated containers," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 361-374, October.
    16. Meng, Qiang & Wang, Shuaian, 2012. "Liner ship fleet deployment with week-dependent container shipment demand," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(2), pages 241-252.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jeong, Yoonjea & Saha, Subrata & Moon, Ilkyeong, 2020. "Optimal devanning time and detention charges for container supply chains," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Cui, Haipeng & Chen, Shukai & Chen, Rui & Meng, Qiang, 2022. "A two-stage hybrid heuristic solution for the container drayage problem with trailer reposition," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(2), pages 468-482.
    3. Cao, Qingning & Tang, Yuanzhao & Perera, Sandun & Zhang, Jianqiang, 2022. "Manufacturer- versus retailer-initiated bundling: Implications for the supply chain," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    4. Numa-Navarro, Ian & Wilmsmeier, Gordon & Gil, Cristiam, 2023. "Improving empty container management using street-turn: A case study of the Colombian logistics network," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    5. Duy-Hong Nguyen, 2024. "Exploring Factors Influencing Vietnamese SMEs' Container Round-Use Platform Adoption," GATR Journals gjbssr648, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    6. Yang, Ruina & Yu, Mingzhu & Lee, Chung-Yee & Du, Yuquan, 2021. "Contracting in ocean transportation with empty container repositioning under asymmetric information," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    7. Chen, Rui & Meng, Qiang & Jia, Peng, 2022. "Container port drayage operations and management: Past and future," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    8. Najafi, Mehdi & Zolfagharinia, Hossein, 2021. "Pricing and quality setting strategy in maritime transportation: Considering empty repositioning and demand uncertainty," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    9. Fan, Tijun & Pan, Qianlan & Pan, Fei & Zhou, Wei & Chen, Jingyi, 2020. "Intelligent logistics integration of internal and external transportation with separation mode," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zheng, Jianfeng & Sun, Zhuo & Zhang, Fangjun, 2016. "Measuring the perceived container leasing prices in liner shipping network design with empty container repositioning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 123-140.
    2. Myung, Young-Soo & Yu, Yung-Mok, 2020. "Freight transportation network model with bundling option," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Alaa Abdelshafie & May Salah & Tomaž Kramberger & Dejan Dragan, 2022. "Repositioning and Optimal Re-Allocation of Empty Containers: A Review of Methods, Models, and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Wang, Hua & Wang, Shuaian & Meng, Qiang, 2014. "Simultaneous optimization of schedule coordination and cargo allocation for liner container shipping networks," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 261-273.
    5. Jeong, Yoonjea & Saha, Subrata & Chatterjee, Debajyoti & Moon, Ilkyeong, 2018. "Direct shipping service routes with an empty container management strategy," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 123-142.
    6. Wang, Shuaian, 2013. "Essential elements in tactical planning models for container liner shipping," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 84-99.
    7. Song, Dong-Ping & Dong, Jing-Xin, 2012. "Cargo routing and empty container repositioning in multiple shipping service routes," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1556-1575.
    8. Zheng, Jianfeng & Sun, Zhuo & Gao, Ziyou, 2015. "Empty container exchange among liner carriers," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 158-169.
    9. Wang, Shuaian & Liu, Zhiyuan & Bell, Michael G.H., 2015. "Profit-based maritime container assignment models for liner shipping networks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 59-76.
    10. Kolar, Petr & Schramm, Hans-Joachim & Prockl, Günter, 2018. "Intermodal transport and repositioning of empty containers in Central and Eastern Europe hinterland," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 73-82.
    11. Wang, Shuaian, 2014. "A novel hybrid-link-based container routing model," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 165-175.
    12. Zhang, Ruiyou & Huang, Chao & Feng, Xuehao, 2020. "Empty container repositioning with foldable containers in a river transport network considering the limitations of bridge heights," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 197-213.
    13. Wang, Shuaian & Meng, Qiang & Bell, Michael G.H., 2013. "Liner ship route capacity utilization estimation with a bounded polyhedral container shipment demand pattern," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 57-76.
    14. Zirui Liang & Ryuichi Shibasaki & Yuji Hoshino, 2021. "Do Foldable Containers Enhance Efficient Empty Container Repositioning under Demand Fluctuation?—Case of the Pacific Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.
    15. Li, Ling & Wang, Bin & Cook, David P., 2015. "Reprint of “Enhancing green supply chain initiatives via empty container reuse”," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 109-123.
    16. Zheng, Jianfeng & Qi, Jingwen & Sun, Zhuo & Li, Feng, 2018. "Community structure based global hub location problem in liner shipping," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 1-19.
    17. Akyüz, M. Hakan & Lee, Chung-Yee, 2016. "Service type assignment and container routing with transit time constraints and empty container repositioning for liner shipping service networks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 46-71.
    18. Li, Ling & Wang, Bin & Cook, David P., 2014. "Enhancing green supply chain initiatives via empty container reuse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 190-204.
    19. Lee, Chung-Yee & Song, Dong-Ping, 2017. "Ocean container transport in global supply chains: Overview and research opportunities," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 442-474.
    20. Wang, Shuaian & Liu, Zhiyuan & Meng, Qiang, 2015. "Segment-based alteration for container liner shipping network design," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 128-145.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:130:y:2019:i:c:p:248-272. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600244/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.