An Optimization Model Of Immune Algorithm For Empty Container Allocation In Marine Transport Network

The entry of mega-containerships brings massive benefits to both carriers and shippers. It is necessary to deploy the resources in the maritime transport network so as to maximize the economies of scale. This paper deals with the optimization work of marine transport network for a group of container seaports to hunt for its minimum cost. Hence, a reliable method is provided for the vessel and port operators to rationally plan the container maritime transport system especial the empty container allocation.The optimization of container transport network is a typical NP-C problem with exponential increase of computational complexity when network nodes added. Thus, this paper proposes a heuristic Immune Algorithm (IA) based on two-dimensional chromosome encoding to overcome the combination explosion in view of more network nodes. IA is a metaphor for natural immune system. It possesses of the advantages of keeping the diversity of the antibodies, promoting the convergence and resolving the precocious defect that is difficult to be surmounted in the process of optimizing the antibody pool. The two-dimensional chromosome encoding can properly depict the structural characteristics of this directed network with multiple nodes, and therefore simplify the modeling process and adapt IA to the optimization of container marine transport.First, the paper reviews the development of worldwide container transport, and derives the objective function of minimum cost. Second, it proposes two IA optimization models of container marine transport: one is regardless of empty container; and the other takes account of the empty container allocation. Last, the two models are applied to optimize the foreign trade container transport network in the Bohai Rim, to achieve a reasonable programming of sea route, vessel frequency and carrying capacity and the distribution of empty container. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed immune algorithm can efficiently optimize the container marine transport network and deploy correlative resources properly so as to control the total cost.