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Analysis and Algorithms for the Transtainer Routing Problem in Container Port Operations

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  • Ananthapadmanabhan Narasimhan

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801)

  • Udatta S. Palekar

    (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801)

Abstract

The problem of minimizing the time taken to load the containers from the container stack yard onto the ship is called the transtainer routing problem. We first do a theoretical investigation of the problem to understand the structural properties of the problem. We then use these results to prove that the problem is NP -Complete. The problem is then formulated as an integer program. A branch-and-bound based enumerative method is developed to obtain an exact solution to the problem. An algorithm to solve the matching problem on a line at the root node of the branch-and-bound tree is developed. Several lower bounds to prune the size of the tree are also developed. A result which states that there cannot exist a polynomial time heuristic with a bounded worst case unless P = NP is proved. Based on this result, an enumerative heuristic with a worst-case performance ratio of 1.5 is designed. Computational tests on randomly generated problems are conducted to evaluate the exact and heuristic algorithms.

Suggested Citation

  • Ananthapadmanabhan Narasimhan & Udatta S. Palekar, 2002. "Analysis and Algorithms for the Transtainer Routing Problem in Container Port Operations," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(1), pages 63-78, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:36:y:2002:i:1:p:63-78
    DOI: 10.1287/trsc.36.1.63.576
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    1. Mordecai Avriel & Michal Penn & Naomi Shpirer & Smadar Witteboon, 1998. "Stowage planning for container ships to reduce the number of shifts," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 76(0), pages 55-71, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Wenkai & Wu, Yong & Petering, M.E.H. & Goh, Mark & Souza, Robert de, 2009. "Discrete time model and algorithms for container yard crane scheduling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 198(1), pages 165-172, October.
    2. Gharehgozli, Amir & Zaerpour, Nima, 2018. "Stacking outbound barge containers in an automated deep-sea terminal," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(3), pages 977-995.
    3. Vallada, Eva & Belenguer, Jose Manuel & Villa, Fulgencia & Alvarez-Valdes, Ramon, 2023. "Models and algorithms for a yard crane scheduling problem in container ports," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 309(2), pages 910-924.
    4. Xiao-Ming Yang & Xin-Jia Jiang, 2020. "Yard Crane Scheduling in the Ground Trolley-Based Automated Container Terminal," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 37(02), pages 1-28, March.
    5. Jiang, Xin Jia & Jin, Jian Gang, 2017. "A branch-and-price method for integrated yard crane deployment and container allocation in transshipment yards," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 62-75.
    6. Shell Ying Huang & Ya Li, 2017. "Yard crane scheduling to minimize total weighted vessel loading time in container terminals," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 689-720, December.
    7. Gharehgozli, Amir Hossein & Yu, Yugang & de Koster, René & Udding, Jan Tijmen, 2014. "An exact method for scheduling a yard crane," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 235(2), pages 431-447.
    8. Ehleiter, Anne & Jaehn, Florian, 2016. "Housekeeping: Foresightful container repositioning," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 203-211.
    9. Kang, Seungmo & Medina, Juan C. & Ouyang, Yanfeng, 2008. "Optimal operations of transportation fleet for unloading activities at container ports," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 42(10), pages 970-984, December.
    10. Gharehgozli, Amir & Yu, Yugang & de Koster, René & Du, Shaofu, 2019. "Sequencing storage and retrieval requests in a container block with multiple open locations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 261-284.
    11. Amir Hossein Gharehgozli & Gilbert Laporte & Yugang Yu & René de Koster, 2015. "Scheduling Twin Yard Cranes in a Container Block," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(3), pages 686-705, August.
    12. Dirk Briskorn & Florian Jaehn & Andreas Wiehl, 2019. "A generator for test instances of scheduling problems concerning cranes in transshipment terminals," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 41(1), pages 45-69, March.
    13. Woo, Youn Ju & Kim, Kap Hwan, 2011. "Estimating the space requirement for outbound container inventories in port container terminals," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(1), pages 293-301, September.
    14. Kim, Kap Hwan & Park, Young-Man, 2004. "A crane scheduling method for port container terminals," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(3), pages 752-768, August.
    15. Galle, Virgile & Barnhart, Cynthia & Jaillet, Patrick, 2018. "Yard Crane Scheduling for container storage, retrieval, and relocation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(1), pages 288-316.
    16. Xi Guo & Shell Ying Huang, 2012. "Dynamic Space and Time Partitioning for Yard Crane Workload Management in Container Terminals," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(1), pages 134-148, February.
    17. Anne Ehleiter & Florian Jaehn, 2018. "Scheduling crossover cranes at container terminals during seaside peak times," Journal of Heuristics, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 899-932, December.
    18. Zapfel, Gunther & Wasner, Michael, 2006. "Warehouse sequencing in the steel supply chain as a generalized job shop model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(2), pages 482-501, December.
    19. Iris F. A. Vis & Hector J. Carlo, 2010. "Sequencing Two Cooperating Automated Stacking Cranes in a Container Terminal," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(2), pages 169-182, May.
    20. Gharehgozli, A.H. & Roy, D. & de Koster, M.B.M., 2014. "Sea Container Terminals," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2014-009-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    21. Jin, Bo & Yu, Zhishan & Yu, Mingzhu, 2022. "Inbound container remarshaling problem in an automated container terminal," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).

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