Optimization Of Continuous Berth And Quay-crane Integrated Scheduling In Container Terminal

An optimization method of integrated scheduling for continuous berth and quay-crane is formulated based on the operations situations of the actual production of container terminal and the existing research methods for the berth and quay-crane scheduling problem. A mathematic model is built to minimize the punishment from the terminal operators’ perspective, a nested genetic algorithm is designed to solve this problem. The time of docking and departure, berthing and the best loading/unloading sequence of ship are solved by numerical at the highest customer satisfaction rate in a case study. The presented optimization method is verified by two different examples(single-bay case and multi-bay case) and shows a good validity. The main works are listed as:(1) The layout, the work flow and the production characteristics are briefly introduced in an overview of the container terminals, which lays a good foundation of the definition of the subsequent problem of integrated scheduling for continuous berth and quay-crane.(2) The problems of integrated scheduling for continuous berth and quay-crane are defined. The problems of the continuous berth, the quay-crane scheduling are described in detail and the discrimination between the allocation and scheduling of the berth and quay-crane are given, which lay a solid foundation for the corresponding model for the scheduling problem of the of berth and quay-crane.(3) A math model for the scheduling of berth and quay-crane is formulated according to the above definitions. The objective function consists of three parts of punishment(the delay of minimum time of departure, the location’s deviation of docking and berthing, and the shift of quaycrane). The scheduling model takes the container group and bay as unit task separately for two different unloading ways. A time model is included in the above mentioned model as a sub-model. The time model is formulated to solve operation time in unit task according to the corresponding unloading way and can be classified into two versions(for single-bay and multi-bay). These two model versions are also numerically verified.(4) A nested genetic algorithm is designed based on the formulated model. Two inner circulations are used for the berth allocation and the quay-crane scheduling, the outer circulation is used to transmit and couple back the two circulation parameters.(5) A case of 5 large ships’ docking and berthing is simulated under the operation conditions of the International Container Terminal of Meishan Island of Ningbo by the presented optimization method, which shows the effectiveness and validity of the method for enhancing the operation efficiency.