Simulation Studies of Truck Configuration in a Container Terminal

In this paper, we consider the problem of truck configuration in a container terminal. A model is built using the Witness simulation software to simulate the process of a ship´s handling and transportation. It is based on the reality of a large container terminal in China. The transportation network for container truck is reproduced in the model from the quay side to the container yard. Input data include the parameters in a generic format such as lengths of paths, quantity and speed of vehicles, the operation mode. Therefore, the model is adjustable to many situations. The paper analyzes the output results through running the model, and examines whether the quantity and the speed of the container trucks have influenced the handling time and how much it is. The study indicates that the quantity should be configured dynamically according to different stages of handling, and that raising the speed of the trucks would not necessarily improve the handling efficiency. The object-oriented method proves quite effective in developing the simulation model, resulting in a reliable and adjustable model