Modeling the materials handling in a container terminal using electronic real-time tracking data

Information systems have been introduced to accumulate real-time tracking data on containers and transporters at container terminals in ports. Logistics managers of container terminals need an intelligent tool to analyze the performance of highly complex and large logistics systems using the accumulated real-time tracking data. In this paper, all of the operational activities of an actual container terminal in Japan are simulated to analyze the processing time and the bottlenecks of the operations flows. The method for collecting the required data for performing simulation is described, especially by making use of electronic real-time tracking data that is accumulated from the information systems. The procedure is applied to an actual container terminal in a port. It is found that the information obtained by performing simulation is effective for analyzing the performance of the operation.