Enhancing Container Terminal Productivity by Eliminating Break Times Through Optimized Crane Operator Scheduling

Abstract Container crane operators play a crucial role in maintaining the productivity of container terminals. The presence of well-rested and efficient crane operators is essential for maximizing terminal performance. This study highlights a strong correlation between optimized scheduling of operator work hours and increased productivity. A key innovation in this approach is the elimination of equipment downtime that is typically caused by operator breaks. This is achieved through dynamic scheduling, which ensures that operators receive adequate rest while minimizing interruptions. As a result, both operator performance and safety during loading and unloading operations improve, leading to enhanced overall terminal efficiency. In addition to boosting productivity, the proposed scheduling method takes into account the sustainability of human resources. It aligns with broader policy considerations, socioeconomics, and legal regulations, particularly labor laws. Furthermore, this study addresses challenges related to infrastructure and sustainability in container terminal operations by optimizing resource use and improving operational efficiency. Various scenarios involving different numbers of operators and workload patterns are evaluated against container handling performance, while keeping the same equipment and operational conditions. The results show that, although increasing the number of crane operators and improving workload management leads to higher operational costs, it significantly enhances both productivity and capacity at the container terminal.