Multi-Objective and Stochastic Optimization Model of Transit Containers Storage in a Transshipment Port Yard

The load/unload task in a transshipment port yard is more heavy and the time requirmement is more tight than an export port.A multi-objective and stochastic programming optimization model for containers stacking in the storage yard of a transshipment port is built to improve its efficiency. The objective function is to minimize the number of yard cranes used in the storage yard and balance the workload among different blocks during the planning period. The decision variables include the number of transit containers assigned to yard-bits, yard cranes distributed to blocks, yard-bits with high and low workload in a block. The constraints include meeting the shipping requirement, storage capacity and operational capacity of yard cranes. The numbers of transit containers are stochastic.The model is tranfered into an integer programming and solved by Lingo9.0. The simulation is done to recover the relation between workload level and the number of yard crane used and the workload balance. The model can be used to yard stacking management and lift its level for a transshipment port.