Pipe flow modelling of container terminal logistics processes: a case study in Alexandria

Abstract

Potentially powerful pipe flow models of container terminal logistics processes have been neglected to date. Despite phenomenal recent growth in container traffic in Egypt, modelling of terminals handling this traffic has remained rare. A case application in Alexandria, Egypt, collated empirical container and information flows using interviews and company records to develop a dynamic operational perspective. Using these data, operational-level model simulation of the entire logistical processes of both import and export flows was undertaken. Following successful validation of a base simulation model, scenario testing has empowered the case company to proactively design and test the impact of operational changes on the entire logistics process.

Keywords:

• container terminals
• logistics processes
• modelling
• simulation
• scenario testing

Acknowledgements

The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for their careful reading and constructive comments, which have significantly improved the presentation of the paper.

Disclosure

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.