The impact of foldable containers on the cost of empty container relocation in the hinterland of seaports

Koichi Shintani (), Rob Konings, Etsuko Nishimura and Akio Imai
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Koichi Shintani: Tokai University
Rob Konings: Delft University of Technology
Etsuko Nishimura: Kobe University
Akio Imai: Kobe University

Maritime Economics & Logistics, 2020, vol. 22, issue 1, No 4, 68-101

Abstract: Abstract This study analyses the impact of using foldable containers in terms of cost savings of truck drayage operations, of both loaded and empty containers, in the hinterland of a seaport. We model a vehicle routing problem to optimise empty container relocation. A simulated annealing algorithm is developed to solve the problem. Numerical experiments are carried out in realistic empty container relocation scenarios. We find that, under certain conditions, foldable containers can offer higher truck productivity compared with standard containers, hence resulting in substantial cost savings. This paper provides managerial insights into how foldable containers can help reduce the costs of hinterland transport.

Keywords: Container transport; Empty container; Vehicle routing problem; Foldable containers; Hinterland transport (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1057/s41278-019-00141-7

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