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1 – 10 of over 1000Kambiz Mokhtari, Noorul Shaiful Fitri Abdul Rahman, Hamid Reza Soltani, Salim Ahmed Al Rashdi and Kawkab Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al Balushi
At the substantive level, there exists a gap in knowledge about the position of security risk management (i.e. SRM) during the terminals’ operations and management; particularly…
Abstract
Purpose
At the substantive level, there exists a gap in knowledge about the position of security risk management (i.e. SRM) during the terminals’ operations and management; particularly when there is potential for deliberate anti-security acts. Correspondingly, the purpose of this paper is a need for more practical research to find out the justification for the existence of the SRM and different techniques for its appropriate execution on these logistics infrastructures principally with due regard to the potential requirements in the near future.
Design/methodology/approach
Both qualitative and quantitative techniques are used in this study incorporating fuzzy set theory and risk assessment matrix to achieve the research objective.
Findings
A designed SRM framework tailored for Qalhat liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) terminal in Sultanate of Oman was established to manage the security threats which can be resulted from any probable terrorist attacks.
Research limitations/implications
The limited numbers of experts for the purpose of the addressed SRM are causing challenges in data collection.
Practical implications
The pressures for enhanced attention to critical infrastructure security have fostered new challenges for petrochemical seaports and terminals (PSTs). These tendencies dictate to maintain comprehensive security regimens that can be integrated with national and international strategies to support the country’s security against terrorism.
Originality/value
The development of the security risk factor table model in the case of Qalhat LNG Terminal.
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The volumes of international containerized trade substantially increased over the past years. In the meantime, marine container terminal (MCT) operators are facing congestion…
Abstract
Purpose
The volumes of international containerized trade substantially increased over the past years. In the meantime, marine container terminal (MCT) operators are facing congestion issues at their terminals because of the increasing number of large-size vessels, the lack of innovative technologies and advanced handling equipment and the inability of proper scheduling of the available resources. This study aims to propose a novel memetic algorithm with a deterministic parameter control to facilitate the berth scheduling at MCTs and minimize the total vessel service cost.
Design/methodology/approach
A local search heuristic, which is based on the first-come-first-served policy, is applied at the chromosomes and population initialization stage within the developed memetic algorithm (MA). The deterministic parameter control strategy is implemented for a custom mutation operator, which alters the mutation rate values based on the piecewise function throughout the evolution of the algorithm. Performance of the proposed MA is compared with that of the alternative solution algorithms widely used in the berth scheduling literature, including a MA that does not apply the deterministic parameter control strategy, typical evolutionary algorithm, simulated annealing and variable neighborhood search.
Findings
Results demonstrate that the developed MA with a deterministic parameter control can obtain superior berth schedules in terms of the total vessel service cost within a reasonable computational time. Furthermore, greater cost savings are observed for the cases with high demand and low berthing capacity at the terminal. A comprehensive analysis of the convergence patterns indicates that introduction of the custom mutation operator with a deterministic control for the mutation rate value would provide more efficient exploration and exploitation of the search space.
Research limitations/implications
This study does not account for uncertainty in vessel arrivals. Furthermore, potential changes in the vessel handling times owing to terminal disruptions are not captured.
Practical implications
The developed solution algorithm can serve as an efficient planning tool for MCT operators and assist with efficient berth scheduling for both discrete and continuous berthing layout cases.
Originality/value
The majority of studies on berth scheduling rely on the stochastic search algorithms without considering the specific problem properties and applying the guided search heuristics. Unlike canonical evolutionary algorithms, the developed algorithm uses a local search heuristic for the chromosomes and population initialization and adjusts the mutation rate values based on a deterministic parameter control strategy for more efficient exploration and exploitation of the search space.
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In order to be successful, gasoline marketing strategies must anticipate social, economic and technological trends as well as adapt to rapid and somewhat unpredictable changes in…
Abstract
In order to be successful, gasoline marketing strategies must anticipate social, economic and technological trends as well as adapt to rapid and somewhat unpredictable changes in the consumer market. Distribution strategies, which affect the selection of merchandise, advertising and selling, inventory management and other functions, evolve from and adjust to a dynamic, changing environment.
The purpose of this study is to address an importance of an intermodal terminal regarding container drayage trips, which have a major concern for agricultural product exporters in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to address an importance of an intermodal terminal regarding container drayage trips, which have a major concern for agricultural product exporters in the Upper Great Plains. Thus, this study aims to develop a geospatial model considering travel distance and total logistics costs for determining an alternative intermodal terminal location.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops a spatial model integrating integer linear programming to determine an intermodal facility location that minimizes total logistics costs. This research considers travel distance and total logistics costs including highway, rail and transshipment costs.
Findings
The results shows that a Dilworth, Minnesota, terminal reduces vehicle miles of travel on both the highways and rail networks and decreases system-wide total logistics costs compared to the do-nothing scenario while decreasing urban congestion costs in metropolitan areas.
Research limitations/implications
The major contribution of the study is that it provides an integrated tool of spatial and economic analyses to support regional decision-making. The paper will be of interest to regional planners and to those in the private business sectors including farmers and manufacturers. The future study should address demand forecasting on the containerized freight in the region.
Originality/value
The novel approach of this paper is to use a link blocking constraint, considering the directions of the freight flow in a p-hub intermodal problem.
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John Dinwoodie, Sarah Tuck and Harriet Knowles
This chapter presents a framework which is accessible to port authorities to assess the potential environmental impact of maritime operations. Pursuant on globalisation, increased…
Abstract
This chapter presents a framework which is accessible to port authorities to assess the potential environmental impact of maritime operations. Pursuant on globalisation, increased numbers of ship movements have generated more frequent routine maritime operations in ports but few formal approaches exist for assessing their environmental impact, which potentially could be significant. In a novel framing of environmental assessment a business process modelling technique is deployed in a systems approach which highlights inputs, service processes and outputs. In an initial focus, primary processes at strategic level are defined which affect the environmental assessment of present and future operations and their potential impacts. Later, tactical service processes define the integrity of processes that guarantee service level and quality. Finally, outputs are defined by operational processes. The contribution of applying the systems approach to plan more sustainable maritime operations is assessed in a case study of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC) which regulates much of Falmouth Harbour and hosts the UK's largest offshore marine bunkering operation. Following EU designation of a North Sea Sulfur Oxide Emissions Control Areas (SECA) Falmouth recently recorded a significant rise in the number of vessels calling, and volume of fuel sold as more passing vessels take onboard low-sulfur fuel. The systems approach which empowers FHC to mitigate potential risks and assess development proposals proactively is easily transferable to other ports.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate ways to reduce the average amount of exceeded guaranteed service time for external trucks at Deepwater Container Terminal Gdańsk Sp z…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate ways to reduce the average amount of exceeded guaranteed service time for external trucks at Deepwater Container Terminal Gdańsk Sp z o.o. (DCT Gdańsk) via dosing the gate activities, in particular IN-Gate entry process, of trucks carrying import/export/transit containers.
Design/methodology/approach
A Six Sigma methodology with the define, measure, analyze, improve, and Control (DMAIC) methods along with the SIPOC chart, cause and effect diagram, scatterplot, benchmark and brainstorming and finally multi-voting tool are used as analyses tools in this research.
Findings
DCT Gdańsk reorganized and modernized the gate operations. Gate reorganization and modernization include streaming line traffic at the gates, external parking lot optimization, implementation of dedicated supporting software and installation of dedicated CCTV cameras to provide 24 h live view. During gates development, the external truck service times data were collected and analysed. The obtained materials concerned the measurement of the average truck turnaround time before and after the implementation of the improvements.
Originality/value
The proposed approach of reducing the average amount of exceeded guaranteed service time of external trucks at the container terminal is unique and relatively cheap mainly due to organizational changes with some widely available low-cost investments and can be applied on a different scale to other container terminals or to transport and logistics companies.
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Mohd Daud Norzaidi, Siong Choy Chong, Mohamed Intan Salwani and Binshan Lin
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether intranet functionalities predict perceived usefulness, which in turn influences intranet usage and whether such usage affects…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether intranet functionalities predict perceived usefulness, which in turn influences intranet usage and whether such usage affects job performance of managers.
Design/methodology/approach
About 150 of 357 managers engaged by numerous organizations in the port industry in Malaysia, namely port authority, terminal operator, marine department, immigration department, and royal customs and excise department which utilized intranet were sampled using a set of self‐reporting questionnaires.
Findings
The results of structural equation modeling indicate that intranet functionalities influence perceived usefulness, usage, and indirectly predict port managers' performance.
Research limitations/implications
The paper focuses only on the perspective of intranet usage among middle managers working in the port industry in Malaysia.
Practical implications
Suggestions are provided on how the maritime industry in particular and other industries in general can improve their intranet adoption to achieve organizational goals.
Originality/value
This paper draws attention to the imperative of having proper intranet functionalities in place in light of its indirect impact on job performance improvements.
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The Esso Petroleum Company's new oil refinery at Fawley, Hampshire, was officially opened by the Prime Minister on Friday, 14th September. The opening ceremony was a momentous and…
Abstract
The Esso Petroleum Company's new oil refinery at Fawley, Hampshire, was officially opened by the Prime Minister on Friday, 14th September. The opening ceremony was a momentous and memorable occasion, in keeping with the opening of Europe's largest refinery. The opening speeches by Mr. L. Sinclair, Chairman and Managing Director, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Frank W. Abrams, President, Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), and the Rt. Hon. C. R. Attlee, C.H., M.P., Prime Minister, were concise, interesting, and straight to the point. The lunch that followed for over 5,000 guests was the largest ever given in Britain. Even the weather was kind after a night of high winds that caused anxious moments to the tent erectors. It was a fitting ceremony to a great occasion and Fawley is off to a flying start.
Massimo Clemente, Eleonora Giovene di Girasole, Casimiro Martucci and Daniele Cannatella
Cities by the sea have a strong identity which comes from the historic relationship between an urban community and the ocean and is important in attracting tourists. This chapter…
Abstract
Cities by the sea have a strong identity which comes from the historic relationship between an urban community and the ocean and is important in attracting tourists. This chapter analyzes urban regeneration, waterfront redevelopment, touristic valorization, and marketing strategies used by seaside cities that, by sharing their maritime culture, have achieved integrated urban transformations. This is facilitated by developing a “collaborative commons” of producers and consumers for the touristic enhancement of the metropolitan area such as Naples.
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Amir Saeed Nooramin, Vahid Reza Ahouei and Jafar Sayareh
This research uses an optimisation model, based on the Six Sigma methodology, which assists marine container terminal operators to minimize trucks' congestions, as a defect in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This research uses an optimisation model, based on the Six Sigma methodology, which assists marine container terminal operators to minimize trucks' congestions, as a defect in the global containerisation and smoothing the gate activity to reduce trucks' turn‐around times. The main purpose of this paper is implementing the Six Sigma in the landside of marine container terminals to reduce the average number of trucks in queues and average trucks' waiting times in both entrance and exit gates.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines the applicability of the DMAIC method along with the SIPOC, cause and effect diagram, and failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA).
Findings
In this paper, Six Sigma methodology is found as an accurate optimisation tool in marine container terminals. Risk Priority Numbers obtained from the FMEA analysis denote that additional control procedures and associated inspections are needed as monitoring tools on the working time and activity of weighbridge operators and truck's drivers. In addition, serious consideration should be given to operator's performance appraisal and improving the administrative systems.
Research limitations/implications
This study was carried out with some boundaries; like the complex operational system in marine container terminals, available data, time constraints, training the team members and controlling the implemented obtained results.
Originality/value
To date, no study has adequately examined the Six Sigma methodology in marine container terminals as an optimisation tool for reducing trucks' congestion. The challenging issues inherent this problem and the limitation of existing research, motivates this study.
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