Modeling of bulk container handling schemes at a marine terminal

The research addresses a comprehensive assessment of effective supply chain management for bulk cargoes transported in heavy-duty containers to marine container terminals for accumulation and shipment to sea vessels. The relevance of the topic arises from the fact that containerization, which has widely covered various cargo categories, has largely overlooked massive, relatively inexpensive bulk cargoes. These are successfully transported using soft, light-duty containers that require indoor storage facilities, which container terminals typically lack. The task is conditioned by the need to synchronize logistics flows, since managing the terminal’s functional scheme demands a systematic approach to developing a model for the movement of adjacent transport modes, setting the rhythm for the delivery of trucks and railcars for unloading and loading, and considering several other factors. It is emphasized that modeling container handling schemes at a marine terminal directly depends on its throughput, which is calculated based on the port’s storage area capacity — within which a certain number of containers can be accepted for processing and storage — and the availability of mechanization equipment required for their handling. This paper considers the possibility of organizing the terminal’s technological processes based on reducing container storage space under various operating conditions of the transport system, specifically during vessel loading delays caused by meteorological or other reasons. In conclusion, the proposed container handling schemes can help reduce costs for transport process participants, maintain the set deadlines for cargo receipt and processing, and ensure the rhythm and reliability of technological operations at marine terminals.