Optimising maritime logistics to island ports using Max-Flow and Traffic modelling

Efficient maritime logistics between mainland ports and island destinations is essential for trade and regional integration in East Africa. This study develops a sequentially coupled optimisation framework for cargo movement from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar, Comoros, and Seychelles. A multi-sink Max-Flow model is used to determine feasible cargo allocation under shared route-capacity constraints, while a berth scheduling model evaluates vessel operations at destination ports. The analysis is based on a synthetic dataset developed from port throughput statistics, vessel specifications, and service assumptions for methodological demonstration. Results show a feasible combined throughput of 37 000 TEUs across the three destinations. Profit-adjusted routing results indicate net profits of about US$4.49 million for Dar es Salaam–Zanzibar, US$3.60 million for Dar es Salaam–Comoros, and US$3.00 million for Dar es Salaam–Seychelles. Vessel turnaround times range from 8.5 h for the Zanzibar service to 23.5 h for the Seychelles service, with higher delays and cost penalties observed on longer and more constrained routes. The framework demonstrates the value of integrating routing and berth scheduling to improve cargo distribution, reduce delays, and support maritime logistics planning.