Simulation of Short Sea Shipping based Intermodal Transport Chains

João Francisco Martins Escabelado

Key information

Authors:

João Francisco Martins Escabelado (João Francisco Martins Escabelado)

Supervisors:

Tiago Alexandre Rosado Santos (Tiago Alexandre Rosado Santos)

Published in

01/26/2021

Abstract

Hereby it is applied discrete event simulation techniques to model an intermodal transport chain, making use of maritime (Ro-Ro) and road modes of transportation. This type of supply chains is heavily affected by several uncertainties related with bookings and the performance of modal change terminals, land transport and maritime transport. These uncertainties combined, generally lead to transport reliability issues that create reluctance on logistic companies when choosing intermodal solutions over other possibilities. A discrete event simulation model is developed to assess the overall reliability of the transport service, based on whether a combination of road and maritime transport or only road transport is used, for the cases where intermodal is unlikely to succeed. It was also modeled the fully road-based transport chain for the same transportation problem to compare both modalities. The simulation model represents in detail the operation of ships in the route and the traffic of trucks between cargo origins or destinations and respective ports. The schedule compliance is evaluated (under the many uncertainties), as well as the delays occurred on the cargo deliveries, the occupation of each entity and the overall reliability of the system. A comprehensive assessment of the economic performance of the system is also carried out and several conclusions are drawn, being the most relevant one, the obtained economic advantage in 30% in the intermodal service, for the same levels of reliability and under equivalent conditions in both services.