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An Operational Model for Empty Container Management

Author

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  • Alessandro Olivo

    (Department of Land Engineering, University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, 09123, Cagliari, Italy.)

  • Paola Zuddas

    (Department of Land Engineering, University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, 09123, Cagliari, Italy.)

  • Massimo Di Francesco

    (Department of Land Engineering, University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, 09123, Cagliari, Italy.)

  • Antonio Manca

    (Department of Land Engineering, University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, 09123, Cagliari, Italy.)

Abstract

This paper proposes a mathematical programming approach for empty container management. Since directional imbalances in trade activities result in a surplus or shortage of empty containers in ports and depots, their management can be thought of as a min cost flow problem whose arcs represent services routes, inventory links and decisions concerning the time and place to lease containers from external sources. We adopt an hourly time-step in a dynamic network and, although this time-period generates large-size instances, the two implemented algorithms show a good computational efficiency. A possible case study of the Mediterranean basin is proposed and results are presented with a graphical representation, providing a useful support to decision-makers in the field. Maritime Economics & Logistics (2005) 7, 199–222. doi:10.1057/palgrave.mel.9100136

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Olivo & Paola Zuddas & Massimo Di Francesco & Antonio Manca, 2005. "An Operational Model for Empty Container Management," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 7(3), pages 199-222, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:marecl:v:7:y:2005:i:3:p:199-222
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    Cited by:

    1. Kuzmicz, Katarzyna Anna & Pesch, Erwin, 2019. "Approaches to empty container repositioning problems in the context of Eurasian intermodal transportation," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 194-213.
    2. Wenqing He & Zhihong Jin & Ying Huang & Shida Xu, 2021. "The Inland Container Transportation Problem with Separation Mode Considering Carbon Dioxide Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Behzad Behdani & Bart Wiegmans & Violeta Roso & Hercules Haralambides, 2020. "Port-hinterland transport and logistics: emerging trends and frontier research," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(1), pages 1-25, March.
    4. 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.
    5. Hjortnaes, T. & Wiegmans, B. & Negenborn, R.R. & Zuidwijk, R.A. & Klijnhout, R., 2017. "Minimizing cost of empty container repositioning in port hinterlands, while taking repair operations into account," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 209-219.
    6. 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).
    7. Long, Yin & Lee, Loo Hay & Chew, Ek Peng, 2012. "The sample average approximation method for empty container repositioning with uncertainties," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(1), pages 65-75.
    8. Lei Xing & Hong Yan & Yandong Yin & Qi Xu, 2021. "Research on the Optimization of Empty Container Repositioning of China Railway Express in Cooperation with International Liner Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    9. 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.
    10. 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).
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. Shan, Wenxuan & Peng, Zixuan & Liu, Jiaming & Yao, Baozhen & Yu, Bin, 2020. "An exact algorithm for inland container transportation network design," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 41-82.
    14. Han, Guanghua & Pu, Xujin & He, Zhou & Liu, Cong, 2018. "Integrated planning and allocation: A stochastic dynamic programming approach in container transportation," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 264-274.
    15. 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.
    16. Alejandra Gómez-Padilla & Rosa G. González-Ramírez & Fernando Alarcón & Stefan Voß, 2021. "An option contract model for leasing containers in the shipping industry," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 23(2), pages 328-347, June.
    17. Xie, Yangyang & Liang, Xiaoying & Ma, Lijun & Yan, Houmin, 2017. "Empty container management and coordination in intermodal transport," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(1), pages 223-232.
    18. Bell, Michael G.H. & Liu, Xin & Rioult, Jeremy & Angeloudis, Panagiotis, 2013. "A cost-based maritime container assignment model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 58-70.
    19. Song, Dong-Ping & Dong, Jing-Xin, 2011. "Effectiveness of an empty container repositioning policy with flexible destination ports," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 92-101, January.
    20. Wong, Eugene Y.C. & Tai, Allen H. & Raman, Mardjuki, 2015. "A maritime container repositioning yield-based optimization model with uncertain upsurge demand," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 147-161.
    21. Jahn, Carlos & Schlingmeier, Johannes, 2014. "Cooperation in Empty Container Logistics," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Blecker, Thorsten & Kersten, Wolfgang & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Innovative Methods in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Current Issues and Emerging Practices. Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conferenc, volume 19, pages 499-514, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.

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