Analysis of operation modes and equipment configuration in U-shaped sea-rail intermodal port using anylogic simulation

There are various types of operation modes for sea-rail intermodal container ports, which significantly influence the overall efficiency of the port. At present, there is no literature available that provides methods on how to select appropriate operation mode for sea-rail intermodal containers, especially on the U-shaped port. Therefore, our study aims to analyze the effects of two different operation modes on the handling efficiency of port: the decentralized operation mode that organizes “train-yard-vessel” and “train-vessel” tasks separately, and the coordinated operation mode that considers all tasks integrally. To quantitatively evaluate the impacts of these operation modes, a simulation model of the U-shaped sea-rail intermodal port is constructed using AnyLogic software. The simulation model employs a coordinated modeling approach that combines multi-agent modeling and discrete event modeling. Moreover, practical implications are provided for port managers regarding the optimal configuration of the number of internal trucks and rail-mounted gantry cranes.