ABSTRACT
Empty container repositioning is probably the single largest contributor to the congestion at and around marine ports. With a huge number of empty containers at stake at many terminals, a small percentage reduction in empty-repositioning traffic can be reflected in huge congestion reduction and improved operational cost. As a consequence of reduced congestion, container terminals can become more competitive, vehicle emissions will be reduced, and drivers will incur less congestion-related delays.
In this chapter, the empty container reuse concept that facilitates the interchange of empty containers outside container ports is studied. In particular, the depot-direct and street-turn methodologies are investigated, and variants of the empty container reuse problem are considered. These variants are modeled analytically, and optimization techniques are reviewed and discussed.
