THE EFFECT OF MULTI-TRAILER SYSTEMS ON THE EFFICIENCY OF CONTAINER MOVEMENTS BETWEEN THE SHIP AND THE STACKS AT THE DURBAN CONTAINER TERMINAL

Authors

  • Theo Govender University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Michael Brooks University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Clinton Bemont University of KwaZulu-Natal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/28-4-1771

Keywords:

container port operations, tractor trailer systems, discrete event simulation

Abstract

Tractor-trailer units are the primary horizontal transport medium between the ship and the stacking area in container ports, and their efficient operation has a strong influence on loading and unloading rates. This paper presents a comparative study of the vessel loading and unloading procedure at the Port of Durban for conventional tractor-trailer units versus short multi-trailer systems. A discrete event simulation approach was used to model the terminal’s operations using the two types of vehicles, and to analyse the effect on the terminal’s performance and operating costs. The results of the study showed that the current fleet of tractor-trailer units can be replaced by a fleet of multi-trailer systems capable of carrying four twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) each, resulting in equivalent quay crane productivity while reducing the terminal’s operating cost per shift for the horizontal transport subsystem.

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Author Biographies

Theo Govender, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Postgraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at UKZN.

Michael Brooks, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Mechanical Engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Clinton Bemont, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Lecturer in the Discipline of Mechanical Engineering at UKZN.

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Published

2017-12-13

How to Cite

Govender, T., Brooks, M., & Bemont, C. (2017). THE EFFECT OF MULTI-TRAILER SYSTEMS ON THE EFFICIENCY OF CONTAINER MOVEMENTS BETWEEN THE SHIP AND THE STACKS AT THE DURBAN CONTAINER TERMINAL. The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 28(4), 80–94. https://doi.org/10.7166/28-4-1771

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 4 (2017)

Section

General Articles

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