Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling

Due to an ever-increasing movement of containers across the globe in line with the economic boom, the trade imbalance and issues related to empty containers have become inevitable. Empty containers accumulated at specific ports cannot only generate profit but also increase the environmental footprin...

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Main Authors: Alaa Abdelshafie, Bojan Rupnik, Tomaž Kramberger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/11/3/130
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author Alaa Abdelshafie
Bojan Rupnik
Tomaž Kramberger
author_facet Alaa Abdelshafie
Bojan Rupnik
Tomaž Kramberger
author_sort Alaa Abdelshafie
collection DOAJ
description Due to an ever-increasing movement of containers across the globe in line with the economic boom, the trade imbalance and issues related to empty containers have become inevitable. Empty containers accumulated at specific ports cannot only generate profit but also increase the environmental footprint. This research proposes a Maritime Empty Container Reposition Modelling Framework by integrating the agent-based modelling (ABM) paradigm to model the global movements of empty containers. An agent-based maritime logistic empty container redistribution model was developed to help minimize the total relevant costs for empty container movement in the planning horizon. In the system, ports, shipping companies, customers, and empty containers were identified as critical agents. Using simulated annealing (SA), shipping line agents were able to optimise empty container repositioning to determine the best sequence for moving containers. The model was applied to the Asia–Middle East region to simulate global empty containers repositioning in the region. The results comparison shows that the proposed optimised empty container repositioning framework can significantly reduce the shipping line’s costs and make full use of empty containers.
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spelling doaj.art-6c9f02a75dc5400098e6acc65850acc42023-11-17T14:11:08ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542023-03-0111313010.3390/systems11030130Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based ModellingAlaa Abdelshafie0Bojan Rupnik1Tomaž Kramberger2Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, College of International Transport and Logistics, Alexandria 1029, EgyptFaculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 3000 Celje, SloveniaFaculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 3000 Celje, SloveniaDue to an ever-increasing movement of containers across the globe in line with the economic boom, the trade imbalance and issues related to empty containers have become inevitable. Empty containers accumulated at specific ports cannot only generate profit but also increase the environmental footprint. This research proposes a Maritime Empty Container Reposition Modelling Framework by integrating the agent-based modelling (ABM) paradigm to model the global movements of empty containers. An agent-based maritime logistic empty container redistribution model was developed to help minimize the total relevant costs for empty container movement in the planning horizon. In the system, ports, shipping companies, customers, and empty containers were identified as critical agents. Using simulated annealing (SA), shipping line agents were able to optimise empty container repositioning to determine the best sequence for moving containers. The model was applied to the Asia–Middle East region to simulate global empty containers repositioning in the region. The results comparison shows that the proposed optimised empty container repositioning framework can significantly reduce the shipping line’s costs and make full use of empty containers.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/11/3/130maritime industryempty containersrepositioningagent-based modellingsimulationoptimisation
spellingShingle Alaa Abdelshafie
Bojan Rupnik
Tomaž Kramberger
Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling
Systems
maritime industry
empty containers
repositioning
agent-based modelling
simulation
optimisation
title Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling
title_full Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling
title_fullStr Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling
title_full_unstemmed Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling
title_short Simulated Global Empty Containers Repositioning Using Agent-Based Modelling
title_sort simulated global empty containers repositioning using agent based modelling
topic maritime industry
empty containers
repositioning
agent-based modelling
simulation
optimisation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/11/3/130
work_keys_str_mv AT alaaabdelshafie simulatedglobalemptycontainersrepositioningusingagentbasedmodelling
AT bojanrupnik simulatedglobalemptycontainersrepositioningusingagentbasedmodelling
AT tomazkramberger simulatedglobalemptycontainersrepositioningusingagentbasedmodelling