A feedback procedure for robust berth allocation with stochastic vessel delays

A feedback procedure is introduced to the robust berth allocation problem with stochastic vessel delays. This procedure emphasizes the interrelationship between the planning stage and the real-time stage, and employs the cost of schedule changes in the real-time stage to instruct time buffer adjustment for each vessel. Experimental results show that this procedure performs well in different vessel delay patterns. Frequency distribution diagrams of time buffers obtained from this procedure can support the decision making of terminal planners.