ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the concepts, principles, and strategies regarding vessel logistics and shipping operations management. A vessel is a focal asset to provide maritime transport services. Firstly, this chapter introduces the relevant concepts such as the shipowner, charterer, shipbroker, types of ship charters, and types of vessels. The importance of shipping management and the types of modelling methodologies are explained. Secondly, different types of ship operations are discussed from different criteria such as ship types, the way of doing business, and geographic coverage. The characteristics of ship operations are explained in comparison with aircraft operations. The phenomena of heterogeneity and fragmentation in maritime transport are discussed. Thirdly, liner shipping operations are described in detail including the key players in the container shipping supply chain (CSSC), top shipping lines, shipping conferences, and freight rate structure. The main planning problems in liner shipping operations are classified into three planning levels: strategic, tactical, and operational. Representative planning problems at three planning levels are selected and addressed in detail. Specifically, at the strategic level, horizontal cooperation and competition among ocean carriers are explained and modelled; vertical integration with other players in the CSSC will be discussed. At the tactical level, shipping network design problems will be formulated; ship scheduling under uncertainty will be tackled. At the operational level, ship speed optimisation and slow steaming are modelled in relation to the common shipping practices; the shipping disruption management will be addressed considering both regular uncertainty and disruptive event uncertainty. Finally, relevant literature, further readings, and future research trends are discussed.
