Simulation of Container Queues for Port Investment Decisions

Abstract

Abstract Due to congestion of port or due to low tide situation or otherwise, sometimes the ships cannot come to the port directly. In such a situation, the ships are anchored offshore and the containers are transported to the ships through small crafts. This paper simulates this condition to find out the queue of containers at the port and also analyses the effect of increase in the facilities at the port to reduce this queue. However, a cost benefit analysis needs to be done for increasing the facilities at the port i.e. increasing the number of cranes and number of berths. The objective here is to analyse the effectiveness of the suggested solution before investing in increase in facilities. Thus, instead of actually implementing the solution, the advantages and disadvantages of the suggested solution are studied by simulation technique.