Combined fleet deployment and inventory management in roll-on/roll-off shipping

In maritime transportation of automobiles, roll-on/roll-off (ro–ro) shipping companies operate liner shipping services across major trade routes. Large ro–ro shipping companies are well placed to offer end-to-end integrated logistics services to auto manufacturers engaged in international trade of vehicles. Therefore, we present a new mixed integer programming model for fleet deployment including inventory management at the ports along each trade route. Due to the complexity of the problem, a rolling horizon heuristic (RHH) is proposed. The RHH solves the problem by iteratively solving sub-problems with shorter planning horizon. Computational results based on real instances are presented.     

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.     

Robust global supply chain network design under disruption and uncertainty considering resilience strategies: A parallel memetic algorithm for a real-life case study

A mixed-integer, non-linear model is developed for designing robust global supply chain networks under uncertainty. Six resilience strategies are proposed to mitigate the risk of correlated disruptions. In addition, an efficient parallel Taguchi-based memetic algorithm is developed that incorporates a customized hybrid parallel adaptive large neighborhood search. Fitness landscape analysis is used to determine an effective selection of neighborhood structures, while the upper bound found by Lagrangian relaxation heuristic is used to evaluate quality of solutions and effectiveness of the proposed metaheuristic. The model is solved for a real-life case of a global medical device manufacturer to extract managerial insights.     

The ship routing and freight assignment problem for daily frequency operation of maritime liner shipping

To cope with excess capacity and improve service quality, maritime international liner carriers have recently adopted a new operational model known as daily frequency. In this new model, carriers provide daily pickup and delivery service to customers at major ports along the Pacific Rim. We investigate the ship routing and freight assignment problem for daily frequency operation of liner shipping. A solution procedure that incorporates a Lagrangian relaxation technique and local search was proposed. The numerical results show that Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore are ports that are ideal for carriers in establishing daily frequency operations along the Pacific Rim.     

A systems-based approach to address unintended consequences of demand-driven transportation planning in national parks and public lands

In most cases, transportation planning in national parks and public lands might most appropriately be termed “demand-driven.” In this approach, rigorous analyses of park visitation, traffic, and parking data are used as a basis for transportation planning to accommodate current and projected future visitor demand, within financial constraints. Performance measures used to assess the quality of transportation systems in national parks are generally related to “moving people” efficiently. This approach is based on well-established principles for transportation planning in urban and rural communities. However, a demand-driven approach to transportation planning may not be suitable in national parks and public lands because it may enable levels of visitation that cause visitor crowding, resource impacts, and other unintended consequences. This paper introduces a more sustainable, systems-based transportation planning approach developed in the Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO) to help the park operate its shuttle bus system efficiently and conveniently, and according to thresholds for visitor crowding and resource impacts at sites serviced by the shuttle system. The transportation planning approach developed in this study for ROMO is more suitable and sustainable for national parks and public lands than a demand-driven approach, and is readily adaptable to other locations. Correspondingly, the approach is now being applied in several other national parks and public lands recreation areas.     

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.     

Risk management in liner ship fleet deployment: A joint chance constrained programming model

This paper provides a tangible methodology to deal with the liner ship fleet deployment problem aiming at minimizing the total cost while maintaining a service level under uncertain container demand. The problem is first formulated as a joint chance constrained programming model, and the sample average approximation method and mixed-integer programming are used to deal with it. Finally, a numerical example of a liner shipping network is carried out to verify the applicability of the proposed model and solution algorithm. It is found that the service level has significant effect on the total cost.     

Systematic risk behavior in cyclical industries: The case of shipping

This study explores macroeconomic and industry-level effects on corporate systematic risk (or beta) for the international shipping industry. We document the extent to which stock market betas fluctuate over time in this asset-intensive and cyclical industry. Moreover, we analyze the fundamental determinants of systematic risk. We find evidence for high levels of systematic risk in shipping stocks, which match the fundamental risk characteristics of the industry (such as high financial and operating leverage). Shipping firms exhibit distinct industry-specific beta dynamics compared to firms from benchmark sectors or the average firm in the S&P 500 index. Changes in both economic conditions and industry-specific risk factors explain large proportions of beta variation in the cross-section of firms and over time.     

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.     

Transportation disruption risk management: business interruption insurance and backup transportation

Business interruption (BI) insurance and backup transportation have been widely used in distribution centers’ daily risk management. If disruption occurs, a firm (distribution center) can exert efforts to resume its transportation, although its unit transportation cost during the recovery process is uncertain. This paper studies how ex ante BI insurance can affect the ex post transportation recovery, and compares BI insurance with the ex post action—backup transportation. We investigate four strategies: basic strategy, BI insurance strategy, backup transportation strategy, and mixed strategy (integration of the last two). The distribution center that seeks the least profit loss prefers the mixed strategy to other three strategies. However, the mixed strategy might in turn require longer transportation recovery time than the BI insurance strategy. The BI insurance and transportation recovery are complementary, but the BI insurance and backup transportation are substitutable, the backup transportation and the transportation recovery are also substitutable. We also find that the choice of BI insurance strategy and the backup transportation strategy depends on transportation market, insurance market and distribution center’s operational environments.     

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。     

Multi-objective decision support to enhance environmental sustainability in maritime shipping: A review and future directions

This paper aims to examine the potential of multi-objective optimization (MOO) as a decision support to improving sustainability in maritime shipping. We focus on environmental sustainability and the trade-offs involved with economic and operational objectives. Through a systematic approach, we review the literature on environmental sustainability, decision support and multi-objective optimization in maritime shipping. We identify the gaps and directions for future research. It is expected that the next generation of decision support systems for maritime transport will exploit the theoretical development in MOO to facilitate informed decision making in maritime supply chains considering environmental sustainability and the competing objectives.     

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。     

Corporate governance,financial management decisions and firm performance: Evidence from the maritime industry

This study investigates the relation between corporate governance with (i) financial management decisions such as earnings management and sub-optimal investment, and (ii) firm performance in maritime firms. The study reveals that important corporate governance measures, such as insider ownership, board size, presence of corporate governance committees, the percentage of directors serving on the boards of other firms and CEO duality, are associated with financial management decisions and firm performance. The associations revealed can potentially assist in mitigating agency problems and improving financial management decisions and performance in maritime firms.     

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.     

A comprehensive evacuation planning model and genetic solution algorithm

We consider the problem of evacuating an urban area. Several planning aspects need to be considered in such a scenario, which are usually considered separately. We propose a macroscopic multi-criteria optimization model that includes several such questions simultaneously, and develop a genetic algorithm to solve the problem heuristically. Its applicability is extended by also considering how to aggregate instance data, and how to generate solutions for the original instance starting from a reduced solution. In computational experiments using real-world data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and compare different levels of data aggregation.     

铁路运输客货管理机制的探讨

随着我国加入WTO和铁路全面参与运输市场竞争,必须尽快构建适应市场需求的铁路客货管理的动力机制和运作机制,以激发企业和员工搞好营销的内在活力,同时要构建铁路客运和货运的服务质量评价指标,以及相应的质量监督和考核管理办法,做到各项管理活而不乱、管而不死,使铁路客货运输服务质量不断提高,以满足不断增长的经济和社会发展需要。     

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。