Fleet deployment, network design and hub location of liner shipping companies

A mixed integer linear programming formulation is proposed for the simultaneous design of network and fleet deployment of a deep-sea liner service provider. The underlying network design problem is based on a 4-index (5-index by considering capacity type) formulation of the hub location problem which are known for their tightness. The demand is elastic in the sense that the service provider can accept any fraction of the origin–destination demand. We then propose a primal decomposition method to solve instances of the problem to optimality. Numerical results confirm superiority of our approach in comparison with a general-purpose mixed integer programming solver.     

Knowledge management enablers in liner shipping

This study empirically identifies crucial knowledge management enablers and examines their impacts on organizational performance using survey data collected from liner shipping firms include shipping companies and agencies. Results indicated that knowledge management enablers such as organizational structure and knowledge management culture are found to have significantly positive effects on the organizational performance aspects of innovativeness, financial performance, and customer service, whereas information technology support is a positive effect on organizational performance aspect of innovativeness. Theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings on knowledge management for liner shipping companies are discussed.     

Container fleet sizing and empty repositioning in liner shipping systems

This paper considers the joint container fleet sizing and empty container repositioning problem in multi-vessel, multi-port and multi-voyage shipping systems with dynamic, uncertain and imbalanced customer demands. The objective is to minimize the expected total costs including inventory-holding costs, lifting-on/lifting-off costs, transportation costs, repositioning costs, and lost-sale penalty costs. A simulation-based optimization tool is developed to optimize the container fleet size and the parameterized empty repositioning policy simultaneously. The optimization procedure is based on Genetic Algorithms and Evolutionary Strategy combined with an adjustment mechanism. Case studies are given to demonstrate the results.     

The dynamics between freight volatility and fleet size growth in dry bulk shipping markets

This paper studies the relationship between the time-varying volatility of dry bulk freight rates and the change of the supply of fleet trading in dry bulk markets. An abundance of research has been done to understand the time-varying characteristics of freight rate volatility, yet few have discussed the determinants of freight volatility. We therefore examine freight volatility against the changes in fleet size and other shipping market variables over January 1973–October 2010. The study employs a two-step model specification. The first step is the measurement of freight rate volatility through an AR-GARCH model; the second step is the analysis of the relationship between freight rate volatility and fleet size growth through a GMM regression. We confirm similar findings in the literature that freight rate volatility is time varying. Furthermore, the results reveal that the change in fleet size positively affects freight rate volatility, while the spot rate volatility of Capesize dry bulk exhibits a stronger reaction to the change in fleet size. The results of this study contribute in a general sense to understanding the systematic risk of shipping markets.     

A dynamic approach for aircraft assignment and maintenance scheduling by airlines

The problems of assigning planes to flights and of fleet maintenance operations scheduling are considered in this paper. While recent approaches make use of artificial intelligence techniques running on main frame computers to solve combinatorial optimization problems for nominal operations, a dynamic approach is proposed here to face on-line operation conditions. The proposed solution mixes a Dynamic Programming approach (to cope with the fleet assignment problem) and a heuristic technique (to solve the embedded maintenance schedule problem). When applied to a medium charter airline, this approach shows acceptability characteristics for operational staffs, while providing efficient solutions. The proposed solution scheme can be considered as the basis for the development of an on-line decision support system for fleet operations management within airlines.     

转变发展理念规范计划管理为推动铁路科学发展作出新贡献（摘要）

深入贯彻全国铁路工作会议和发展改革工作会议精神,总结2011年铁路发展计划工作,分析当前面临的形势,研究部署2012年重点工作,动员铁路发展计划系统服务铁路建设与运输经营,为加快转变铁路发展方式、推进铁路科学发展而努力奋斗。     

铁路第六次大面积提速在优化运力资源配置扩大运输能力方面取得的成果

铁路运输部门利用既有线提速资源,发挥以动车组为代表的新技术装备优势,挖掘路网潜力,开展运输组织创新,编制完成“4.18”全路第六次大面积提速调图工作,全路车流径路、编组计划、运输组织、机车运用等得到全面优化,客货产品更趋丰富完善,客货服务全面创新,客货能力大幅增长,运输生产得到了进一步释放,为国民经济又好又快地发展将发挥积极的作用。     

Dynamics of liner shipping network and port connectivity in supply chain systems: analysis on East Asia

The study of ports in supply chain systems is an emerging area of importance which has drawn more attention from researchers in recent years. This paper presents a new perspective in this research area by examining the calling patterns of container shipping services in order to understand the dynamics of port connectivity and inter-port relationships in the supply chains. Empirical evidence is drawn from four major ports in East Asia, namely Shanghai, Busan, Kaohsiung and Ningbo. The study identifies the shipping capacity, trade routes and geographical regions connected to the ports, shipping lines involved, and the extensity and intensity of inter-port relationships among the four container ports from liner shipping network’s perspective. The findings show that most of the shipping capacity employed on the major east–west trade routes became non-exclusive and involved calls at two or more of the four ports. Port planners, terminal operators and carriers could capitalise on opportunities through exploitation of complementary relationships that exist among the selected ports, such as offering a package for shipping lines to call at a portfolio of terminals owned by the same terminal operator. Policy and research implications as well as recommendations are discussed for various stakeholders concerned with port planning and regional development.     

铁路基本建设大中型项目计划管理探讨

以南昌铁路局项目为例,阐述铁路基建大中型项目计划管理中前期工作、投资控制、资金管理等方面存在的问题,分析产生问题的原因,提出解决问题的措施建议,探讨如何提高铁路基建大中型项目计划管理水平。     

瑞典和法国高速铁路经营与管理考察报告

结合瑞典、法国高速铁路,介绍世界高速铁路发展战略和经营管理,认为中国应该发展铁路快速客运系统,确定铁路发展战略,强化政府责任,提高分析预测水平,争取相关政策,开展市场竞争。     

我国铁路客站规划与建设

简要介绍铁路客站的基本特征、变迁过程和发展趋势,重点介绍我国铁路客站规划和建设情况,结合工程实例论述新时期铁路客站建设"五性"原则丰富的内涵。     

对客运专线及城际铁路中间站站区规划的分析

新建客运专线及城际铁路中间站主要位于县市地级中小城市,车站数量较多,在设计中逐步形成固定模式。分析这类车站站区规划,找出符合其客流特点与城市发展的规律,有利于做好铁路与城市衔接的规划与设计,发挥客运专线及城际铁路的作用,也有利于设计者对这类车站设计时更加重视和做好每一个环节。     

SeMS and sensibility: Security management systems and the management of risk in the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority

Following International Air Transportation Association requirement for all member airlines and airports to have a security management system (SeMS) beginning 1 March 2007, many organizations are looking to learn from safety and quality management systems. Without specific guidelines or best practices, organizations are forced to imitate these processes designed for different goals. Since safety, quality, and security environments operate on radically different principles, SeMS implementation must take a different tack. The case of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority illustrates the importance of a custom-designed program that meets public and corporate needs. The Authority is responsible for security screening of passengers, non-passengers, and baggage within selected airports. As a crown corporation with a precise statutory mandate and regulatory environment, the development of a SeMS illustrates some of the key problems for the application of SeMS to larger organizations.     

Government Intervention in Tourism Development: Case Studies from Japan and South Australia

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reasons behind and the nature of the intervention of non-local levels of government in local land management and economic development to assist the development of major tourism facilities. Two examples are provided of government intervention, one from Japan and one from Australia, and they show how state intervention may both stimulate tourism development and distort local development planning policy. It is concluded that, although the contents and policies of local development plans are available and may be followed to some extent, in both systems major project decisions are taken out of the hands of local communities.     

发挥直管优势推进管理创新为实现路局又好又快发展注入强大合力

探索铁路局直管站段新体制下的企业管理模式,发挥运输部门的专业管理优势,强化综合部门的服务管理职能,加强企业管理,强化制度创新,推进管理创新,促进铁路的改革和发展.     

浅析铁路企业合同管理存在的问题与对策

市场经济环境下,加强合同管理关系铁路企业经营成效。分析市场经济条件下铁路企业合同管理的特点及存在的问题,提出加强合同管理的对策。     

分布式数据库技术在铁路局供电管理中的应用

郑州铁路局在电气化铁道的供电系统中应用“铁路牵引供电管理信息系统”(EMIS)实现了联网管理、信息共享。对于这种异地数据的应用处理面临着数据同步、数据共享、并行处理、数据传输等4个主要问题,为此EMIS采用了适合于现有网络条件的分布式数据库技术。在分析分布式数据库面临的安全问题的基础上,介绍了EMIS采用的安全保密措施,并针对其不足提出了有关建议措施。     

An approximation approach to a trade-off among efficiency,efficacy, and balance for relief pre-positioning in disaster management

This work develops a multi-objective, two-stage stochastic, non-linear, and mixed-integer mathematical model for relief pre-positioning in disaster management. Improved imbalance and efficacy measures are incorporated into the model based on a new utility level of the delivered relief commodities. This model considers the usage possibility of a set of alternative routes for each of the applied transportation modes and consequently improves the network reliability. An integrated separable programming-augmented ε-constraint approach is proposed to address the problem. The best Pareto-optimal solution is selected by PROMETHEE-II. The theoretical improvements of the presented approach are validated by experiments and a real case study.