Medcenter Container Terminal SpA Uses Simulation in Housekeeping Operations

Within a maritime container terminal, we refer to the operations required to reposition containers in the storage yard as housekeeping. The objective of housekeeping operations, which are typically performed a few hours prior to boarding time, is to accelerate container loading on outgoing vessels. In this paper, we describe our experiences in modeling and simulating the housekeeping process and integrating the related simulation tool into the existing container management system at Medcenter Container Terminal SpA (MCT), the company that runs the container terminal at the port of Gioia Tauro, Italy. MCT planners use this operations research tool to perform quantitative analysis of different scenarios to evaluate alternative policies and rules for housekeeping; hence, they can provide more rapid container loading for shipping companies.