Modeling of the technology of loading and unloading of perishable goods in a seaport

The handling and safety of perishable goods are key tasks in seaport operations. Perishable goods are primarily transported using specialized vehicles or insulated containers designed to maintain a specific temperature regime. These goods include seafood delivered to ports by ships equipped with refrigeration systems. Schedules are developed for processing refrigerated vessels, specifying timeframes for loading and unloading operations based on available lifting and transport equipment as well as vehicles for transporting seafood to storage facilities or consumers. The fleet of lifting and transport equipment significantly influences port operation schemes, cargo turnover, technological process costs, port throughput capacity, and warehouse storage capacity. Automation in lifting and transport equipment partially eliminates human factors from technological processes, thereby improving efficiency but potentially reducing vehicle handling speed. Modeling serves as an effective method for identifying problem areas. Prolonged loading and unloading times beyond scheduled limits or extended exposure of seafood on docks—particularly during summer—adversely impact quality characteristics; thus, minimizing outdoor exposure time is crucial. During modeling of loading and unloading technologies, specific technological operations affecting perishable goods' quality characteristics were identified. Petri nets were employed to simulate these technological processes. The analysis of simulation results revealed not only problem areas but also conflict situations that can be addressed through situational management and adjustments in loading/unloading technologies. Vehicle processing efficiency—apart from that influenced by lifting and transport equipment—is managed via an information system that ensures timely data processing, directly impacting decision-making speed in conflict scenarios.