Repositioning and Optimal Re-Allocation of Empty Containers: A Review of Methods, Models, and Applications

Alaa Abdelshafie, May Salah, Tomaž Kramberger and Dejan Dragan
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Alaa Abdelshafie: Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, College of International Transport and Logistics, Alexandria 1029, Egypt
May Salah: Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, College of International Transport and Logistics, Alexandria 1029, Egypt
Tomaž Kramberger: Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 3000 Celje, Slovenia
Dejan Dragan: Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 3000 Celje, Slovenia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: Managing empty-container movements is one of the most challenging logistics problems in the shipping field. With the growth of global trade imbalance, the repositioning process has become necessary, immediately after emptying a container. The main contribution of this research paper is to enrich the most frequently used methods, models, and applications in the literature, for relaxing the empty-container-repositioning problem. The article presents practices that vary between organizational policies, technical solutions, and modelling applications. A review of optimization models has been used for comparisons, based on specified criteria, such as the time frame, inputs, outputs, scale of the project, and value. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was applied through the online database Web of Science (WOS). It gives a comprehensive description of all the relevant published documents. On the basis of conducting a brief systematic review, future research opportunities have been determined, considering the emerging phenomena in container transport chains.

Keywords: shipping industry; container-transportation management; empty-container repositioning; optimization methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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