Port Capacity Expansion of High Volume Bulk Commodity Terminals

This paper has demonstrated the application of an appropriate port simulation model for evaluating a number of alternatives ways of improving port performance and capacity. The study presented in this paper deals with high volume bulk loading terminals but the approach can be generally applied. The simulations carried out in this study include an increase in the available raft at the terminal (channel dredging etc.); reducing stockout delays (stockpile management) and increase in loading capacity (new technology and capital investment). In each case, the port performance is improved and consequently, a higher throughput is possible. For the example bulk loading port the strategy of stockpile management with a view to avoiding stockouts appears to offer the greatest potential benefit.