Research on the Optimization of Empty Container Repositioning of China Railway Express in Cooperation with International Liner Companies

Lei Xing, Hong Yan, Yandong Yin and Qi Xu
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Lei Xing: College of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Hong Yan: College of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Yandong Yin: College of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Qi Xu: College of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Both China Railway Express (CRE) companies and international liner companies are faced with the problem of empty container repositioning. In order to reduce empty container repositioning cost and realize their sustainable development, this paper studies the optimization problem of empty container repositioning under the condition of their cooperation. To minimize the cost, three optimization models of empty container repositioning are established, which are based on the single repositioning and cooperative repositioning. Numerical experiments are carried out to analyze the three empty container repositioning optimization models solved by CPLEX. The results show that the total cost could be greatly reduced by the cooperative repositioning. The effects of cooperation become more obvious with the unit storage cost or repositioning cost increases and become weaker with the unit mutual rental cost increase. When the demand fluctuation is in a certain range, the cooperation is still effective, which can reduce the cost. But when it is beyond a certain range, the benefits will be greatly reduced. In reality, for the sustainability of their cooperation, both sides should pay attention to the proportion of supply and demand and set reasonable mutual rental cost.

Keywords: China Railway Express; international liner companies; cooperation; sustainable development; empty container repositioning optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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