A Simulation Framework for Optimizing Truck Congestions in Marine Terminals

Abstract

One of the prominent issues that marine terminal operators are seeking to address is to how effectively reduce the truck turn-around times. The time a truck spends at a terminal for loading and/or unloading cargo is a real cost scenario which will affect the overall cost of the container trade.
This research uses the Taylor II simulation software to develop a queuing based simulation methodology that may assist the terminal operators in minimizing truck congestions and smoothing the gate operation to reduce truck turnaround times at marine terminals. The main goal of this paper is to help to reduce the average number of trucks in queues and average trucks’ waiting times in both entrance and exit gates of the ports.