Berth allocation and vessel shifting optimization in terminals with irregular layouts

This paper addresses the continuous berth allocation problem for different types of vessels arriving during a fixed period at bulk terminals with irregular layouts, such as “L” and “F” shaped coastlines. Considering the priority of large vessels in utilizing deep-water berths and berth utilization saturation, a dynamic optimization-based strategy for cargo reduction and vessel shifting is proposed. A mixed-integer programming model is formulated with the objective of minimizing the total time vessels spend in port, and a multi-layer encoded particle swarm optimization algorithm is designed for solving the problem. Berth allocation and cargo reduction shifting plans for different types of vessels are provided. Through numerical experiments, the proposed scheme is compared with two other schemes—one involving fixed cargo reduction shifting and the other without shifting. The results indicate that the proposed strategy has significant advantages in improving berth utilization and reducing total vessel port time.