The Logistics of Moving Containers Between the Docks and the Storage Yard in Port Terminals With Challenging Topography

The growth of global trade in manufactured goods has been made possible by containerization, a specific branch of maritime transport in which goods are transported in standardized metal boxes called containers. Container port terminals (CPTs) are a key link in most maritime transport chains. To accommodate the growth in containerized cargo traffic, many terminals around the world are implementing or developing projects to expand existing CPTs or establish new ones. This chapter focuses on the development of new CPTs in areas with irregular topography, specifically on the logistics of transferring containers between the dock and the storage yard as a process critical to a PCT’s productivity. A review of various customized transport system solutions is presented, followed by a case study of a new PCT facing topographical challenges. Using a discrete-event simulation model, we analyze the overall productivity of this TPC and demonstrate the importance of terrain topography in decisions regarding the design of its transport system. Finally, we discuss some perspectives regarding the carbon footprint of transfer operations, including the use of electric transport solutions.