PORTSIM 5: Modeling from a seaport level

This paper describes PORTSIM 5, a discrete-event seaport simulation model. Specifically, we discuss the developmental efforts and existing system limitations that have led up to the current efforts being undertaken by the Military Traffic Management Command Transportation Engineering Agency and Argonne National Laboratory. PORTSIM 5 builds on the knowledge and expertise gained from two preceding port simulation models, PORTSIM 4.3 and CPORTS 1.4, and incorporates a set of rules and conventions to address the issue of resource competition. We will provide a brief description of the preceding models and illustrate their individual shortcomings. The paper will go on to describe PORTSIM 5 and the three main areas it models, port areas of operation, port processes, and port resources. Port resource allocation methods will also be addressed. In PORTSIM 5, the graphical user interface (GUI) has been decoupled from the simulation. Here we provide a short section on the GUI and illustrate with sample screens and output. Finally, future enhancements are suggested.