A multi-objective optimization study of berth scheduling considering shore side electricity supply

Abstract

The maritime supply chain plays a crucial role in global trade. However, increasing maritime traffic exacerbates air pollution in port cities due to emissions from commonly used ship fuels. Efficient port operations and reduction of ship emissions are urgent priorities. Shore side electricity (SSE) is an effective means of reducing emissions in ports. And it is worthwhile to study how to optimize the berthing plan and SSE supply plan for ships. This study addresses the berth allocation problem (BAP) with a focus on integrating SSE to reduce emissions. We develop a multi-objective optimization model that to ensure port and ship benefits while improving efficiency and reducing emissions, considering key factors like SSE availability, SSE Voltage, fuel prices, and call schedules. Our improved NSGA-III algorithm, which combines fitness enhancements and local search operators, significantly outperforms classical heuristics, particularly in medium- and large-scale scenarios, with a roughly 30% improvement in effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses reveal the critical impact of matching SSE deployment on ships and berths, and the influence of electricity prices and retrofitting costs on SSE utilization. Our findings offer strategic insights for maritime stakeholders and policy guidance for SSE implementation.