Minimizing fuel emissions by optimizing vessel schedules in liner shipping with uncertain port times

• Published in: Transportation research. Part E, Logistics and transportation review Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 863 - 880
• Main Authors: Qi, Xiangtong, Song, Dong-Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Exeter Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.07.2012; Elsevier; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Brennstoff; Emissions control; Fuel emission; Hafenanlagen; Immissionsschutz; Job shops; Liner shipping; Linienschifffahrt; Mathematical problems; Route optimization; Scheduling; Scheduling-Verfahren; Ship scheduling; Shipping industry; Stochastic optimization; Stochastischer Prozess; Studies; Uncertainty; Liner shipping; Uncertainty; Fuel emission; Stochastic optimization; Ship scheduling
• ISSN: 1366-5545; 1878-5794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2012.02.001

► We model vessel scheduling problem in liner shipping under port uncertainty. ► We minimize fuel consumption and emission subject to shipping service levels. ► The objective function is convex and differentiable under certain conditions. ► The shortest leg should be planned relatively longer time. ► Fuel consumption can be reduced by sacrificing service levels. We consider the problem of designing an optimal vessel schedule in the liner shipping route to minimize the total expected fuel consumption (and emissions) considering uncertain port times and frequency requirements on the liner schedule. The general optimal scheduling problem is formulated and tackled by simulation-based stochastic approximation methods. For special cases subject to the constraint of 100% service level, we prove the convexity and continuous differentiability of the objective function. Structural properties of the optimal schedule under certain conditions are obtained with useful managerial insights regarding the impact of port uncertainties. Case studies are given to illustrate the results.