A methodological framework to allocate storage space for outbound containers

Abstract

The staking of containers on ideal locations within the yard is a tactical decision that affects the productivity of container terminals. The goal is to improve posterior loading and retrieval operations, to get better use of terminal resources. In this paper, we study how to allocate storage space for outbound containers in container terminals. A two-phase methodological framework is proposed. The first phase groups outbound containers into clusters of similar operational loading conditions. Then in a second phase, a bi-objective storage space assignment model is solved to determine the set of block-bays where groups of similar containers will be stored during the planning horizon. This study presents a double contribution. On one hand, it proposes a new methodological framework that combines operations research and data mining techniques to solve a storage space assignment problem for outbound containers. On the other hand, it analyzes the impact of three factors on four performance metrics used to evaluate the quality and quantity of alternative solutions to the problem of allocation of storage space for outbound containers. The experimental framework is composed of an experimental design study to assess the impact of three factors on four performance metrics used to assess the quality of the storage space assignment solutions, and a case study to validate the proposed approach. The experimental results reveal that the storage yard's capacity and the number of clusters used to group the containers destined to a vessel are the main factors that affect the number and quality of alternative solutions.