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This study seeks to explore the effectiveness of employing foldable containers (FLDs) in liner shipping to reduce relocation and the empty containers and bunker costs (BCs) associated with ship operations. This resolves a minimum-cost multicommodity network flow problem by optimizing container fleet size and empty container relocation in a multi-port shipping service network. Port handling time and sailing speed provided by obtained optimal solutions enable the determination of ship BCs as a secondary step. The numerical experiments demonstrate the comparative effect of FLDs against standard ones on the reduction of the costs of empty containers and containership bunker oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the drop-and-pickup container drayage problem with empty container constraints. In this problem, a truck is allowed to drop off the container at the customer and then leave. After the container has been packed/unpacked, the truck returns to pick it up. The problem is further complicated by the fact that empty containers at the depot are often limited in number. This container drayage problem is of great practical importance but seldom investigated. In this paper, we first formulate the problem as a directed graph and then mathematically model it as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) with the objective of minimizing total travel costs. To solve the MILP effectively, we devise a branch and price algorithm that incorporates several performance enhancement strategies, including three versions of the bi-directional label setting algorithm, preprocessing of time windows and a heuristic for high-quality upper bounds. The experimental results indicate that (1) the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms CPLEX in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, (2) an average cost saving of 9.95∼12.25% can be achieved from the drop-and-pickup mode and (3) the benefit of drop-and-pickup mode increases when the customer density and the fixed cost increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commodities are usually transported in bulk and are associated with the risk of environmental pollution and cargo loss during intermodal transportation. This study discusses the containerization of bulk cargo with the coordination of bulk cargo transport and empty container repositioning. In such a transport network, a bulk cargo transportation company can use empty containers to load and deliver bulk cargo. We proposed models to analyze the optimal decisions regarding the number of leased empty containers under uncertain demand. We discussed three business modes to demonstrate the financial and resilience performance of bulk cargo containerization and supply chain coordination. Our results show that the trip-sharing mode can significantly increase the amount of bulk cargo containerization by reducing the transportation cost of empty containers that need to be repositioned. This model can help bulk cargo logistics companies determine the optimal number of released containers by considering profits and risk control. This study also sheds light on ways to promote supply chain resilience by incentivizing containerization and trip sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the empty container problem is evaluated by quantification of factors related to empty container accumulation as well as alternative ways that can be followed for solutions. The study is mainly constructed as two parts; the first part is on identifying involving factors by using DEMATEL and the second part deals with alternative solutions by applying TOPSIS method. The main causes affecting empty containers were found as trading imbalance, irregular distribution, delivery time, unbalanced freight charges and inadequate port management. Finally, based on applied Multi Criteria Decision Making approach, this study suggests that empty container problem can be solved by sharing infrastructures and equipment among logistic companies, allocating storage areas for empty containers outside the ports and following robust fast custom regulations.

In order to improve the average utilization rate of logistics containers and solve the problem of high proportion of empty containers faced by containers, based on the analysis of the reasons and the summary of the research status, this paper proposes a container integrated dispatch platform solution based on the sharing mode. This program combines optimization objectives, constraints, order allocation models, order acceptance probability models and combination optimization models, and uses Matlab for simulation analysis. The results show that the average utilization rate of containers based on the sharing mode is increased from 80% to 90%, which effectively reduces the empty container rate of containers. This research will help promote the development of logistics trade economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hinterland transportation costs constitute a significant portion of total container transport costs. However, the repositioning effects of empty containers in hinterland areas have not been studied well compared to those in maritime areas. In addition, the effects of using foldable containers have not been investigated fully at an operational level. In this study, we analyze the effects of using a restricted number of foldable containers in hinterland areas. Mathematical models were developed to minimize total costs, and various effects of using foldable containers were investigated. To evaluate the real-world situation with the models, different customer scenarios and port policies were considered. The experiment results showed that foldable containers could notably reduce total costs. They also indicated that each effect could vary significantly depending on conditions. Therefore, the trade-offs between cost savings and additional costs incurred by using foldable containers should be contemplated in order to exploit foldable containers successfully in hinterland areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jammu and Kashmir, the northern most state is one of the most important apple producing states of India. The pesticide trade has increased tremendously in the region which affects both environment and human health. This paper presents and estimated the cost of illness resulting from pesticide-related acute health symptoms in the apple growing region of Jammu and Kashmir. Apple growers reported as many as 15 serious issues and symptoms associated with the use of pesticides in the region. The study employs Cobb-Douglas linear production function, Cost of Illness method and Contingent valuation method through Willingness to Pay for analysing the requisite data. The study reveals that pesticide sprays and chemical fertilisers contribute 17.25 and 24.23 per cent to the overall apple production in the region. There is a decrease of 7.72 per cent cost of illness if the respondent who applies pesticides is a male and similarly, age of the respondent is having 0.35 per cent impact and incurs huge cost for the illness due to exposure. Similarly, household willingness to pay (WTP) for safer pesticides states that highly qualified respondents in the area are ready to pay 63.59 percent more than the less qualified/illiterate respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the impact of using foldable containers in terms of cost savings of truck drayage operations, of both loaded and empty containers, in the hinterland of a seaport. We model a vehicle routing problem to optimise empty container relocation. A simulated annealing algorithm is developed to solve the problem. Numerical experiments are carried out in realistic empty container relocation scenarios. We find that, under certain conditions, foldable containers can offer higher truck productivity compared with standard containers, hence resulting in substantial cost savings. This paper provides managerial insights into how foldable containers can help reduce the costs of hinterland transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A duopoly maritime transportation system with two ocean carriers providing cargo transport services between two sea ports is investigated in this paper. Pricing game models are developed to describe the competitive relationship between the two ocean carriers with/without blockchain adoption. Empty container repositioning is characterized in the models. Through model analysis, the pricing equilibria are derived. Using theoretical analysis and numerical studies, we find that (1) only when the fixed cost of blockchain is low do carriers adopt blockchain technology; (2) regardless of whether or not the competitor adopts blockchain technology, the carrier is better off by adopting it; (3) when both participants choose to adopt blockchain technology, the impact of blockchain on actual demand is not always positive unless the original operational costs are relatively high; and (4) sometimes, empty containers caused by demand imbalance in the two transportation directions are helpful in increasing the carrier's profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maritime Transport is a favoured tool regarding the universal exchanges because it has gone through several evolutions. Indeed, the containerization is considered as one of the most remarkable improvements in the shipping. The containers are rented by shipping companies. However, these companies meet an empty container availability problem at some ports of Maritime Transport Network (MTN) to satisfy the demands of clients. The objective of this work is to solve the problem of the imbalance of the distribution of containers and look for empty containers at less cost to meet the demands of clients. As a result, the authors propose an application to represent the MTN, and provide a balanced distribution of containers. The work presented in this article is based on a heuristic method by neighbourhood. It allows the process of the clients' demands and transfers of full containers as well as the research of empty containers by optimizing the cost of theirs return.