Optimizing Ports through Computer Simulation Sensitivity Analysis of Pertinent Parameters

Abstract

This study is concerned with the analysis of the importance of a number of parameters influencing the economic optimum size of a sea port. The combined influence of quay length-as distinct from number of berths-and the total capacity of the cargo handling equipment, expressed as the number of cranes, is studied. The reliability of optimization results is discussed based on their sensitivity to variations in the distributions of ship sizes and crane capacities.