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Abstract: This paper examines ways in which the handling of container barges in the seaport of Rotterdam could be improved with the ultimate aim of expanding the role of barges in the transportation of containers to the hinterland. It argues that the replacement of the present barge services with hub-and-spoke networks would be a promising strategy. The main purpose of the paper is to point out that hub-and-spoke networks can be set up in different ways and to explore the different impacts that these can have on their economic feasibility. A cost model is presented which compares the cost performance of present services to the hinterland with that of the different settings in the hub-and-spoke network, i.e. type and size of vessel, the barge-handling process in the hub, the location of the hub and the handling process at the seaport terminal. The results show that hub-and-spoke has the potential to deliver a better cost performance provided the handling costs in the hub can be kept within limits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• We study the problem of allocating containers to barges in a dry-port setting. • We develop a novel mathematical model based on the split VRP with pickups and deliveries. • A hybrid metaheuristic is developed. • The metaheuristic produces high-quality results. • Experiments on real-world data show trends and limitations of current practices. In this paper, we will study a typical problem in inland container shipping, concerning the barge transportation of maritime containers between a dry port and a set of seaport terminals. The barges depart from the dry port and visit a set of sea terminals, where containers need either to be dropped off or picked up. The goal is to achieve economies of scale with barges and avoid trucking as much as possible. The decision thus involves finding the best allocation of containers to barges in order to guarantee on-time delivery and meet capacity restrictions. The problem will be modeled as a variant of the split vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickups and deliveries coupled with time features. The model includes parameters that can be tuned to improve barge utilization and travelling distance. A hybrid local search meta-heuristic algorithm, combined with a branch-and-cut solver, will be developed to solve the model. Numerical experiments have been conducted to test the performance of the algorithm and provide solution analysis for practical insights. Real-world data has been collected from a local barge operator based in the Port of Rotterdam region and will be used as input for the experiments. This will result in an in-depth analysis into current planning practices. The proposed framework complements existing models in the literature and contributes to the development of a comprehensive set of decision support tools, which help in the decision-making process for inland terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]