A multi-scenario model for empty container repositioning with uncertain demand. (1st January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Francesco, Massimo; Lai, Michela; Zuddas, Paola
• Is Part Of: International journal of services and operations management. Volume 19:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 212
• Page End: 228
• Publication Date: 2014-01-01
• Subjects: maritime transportation services -- operations management -- scenarios -- empty container repositioning -- optimisation models -- stochastic programming; Production management -- Periodicals; 658.5005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-2370

Abstract

This paper investigates the maritime repositioning of empty containers when their demand is uncertain. It involves moving empty containers from import-dominant ports to export-dominant ports in anticipation of future demands. In order to consider demand uncertainty, the problem is addressed by a stochastic programming approach, in which different scenarios are included in a multi-scenario optimisation model and explicitly linked by non-anticipativity conditions. Numerical experiments are carried out to show which benefits are obtained by multi-scenario solutions with respect to their deterministic counterparts, which consider only one point forecast for each uncertain parameter.