Simulation Study on RMGC-Design Planning

This chapter is devoted to the numerical investigation of planning problems on the design and the operation of automated RMGC systems at seaport container terminals. For that purpose, thousands of simulation experiments are conducted with the previously introduced RMGC-simulation model, statistically analysed, interpreted and discussed. Firstly, the effects of decisions on the operating type of RMGC system and the yard-block layout on the operational performance of container-storage yards are analysed in depth. Thereafter, it is investigated in how far the effects of the RMGC design are sensitive to changes of several factors, which include the average filling rate of the yard block, the mean container-dwell time, the transshipment factor, the vessel-call pattern, the crane kinematics as well as the choice and the parametrisation of operational strategies for the container-stacking, crane-scheduling and crane-routing problems. Finally, all findings of this simulation study are discussed and summarised with respect to their practical implications.