Empty Container Repositioning

Dong-Ping Song () and Jing-Xin Dong ()
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Dong-Ping Song: University of Liverpool
Jing-Xin Dong: Newcastle University

Chapter 6 in Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics, 2015, pp 163-208 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Empty container repositioning (ECR) is one of the most important issues in the liner shipping industry. Not only does it have an economic effect on the stakeholders in the container transport chain, but it also has an environmental and sustainability impact on the society since the reduction of empty container movements will reduce fuel consumption, and reduce congestion and emissions. This chapter first analyzes the main reasons that cause empty container repositioning. Secondly, we provide a literature review with the emphasis on modeling the ECR problem from the network scope, e.g. modeling ECR in seaborne transportation network, modeling ECR in inland or intermodal transportation network, and treating ECR as a sub-problem or a constraint under other decision-making problems. Thirdly, we discuss the solutions to the ECR problems from the logistics channel scope perspective, which are categorized into four groups including organizational solutions, intra-channel solutions, inter-channel solutions, and technological innovations. Fourthly, we discuss the solutions to the ECR problems from the modeling technique perspective, which includes two broad research streams: network flow models and inventory control-based models. We then present two specific models representing the above two research streams, which aim to tackle the ECR problems in stochastic dynamic environments considering both laden and empty container management.

Keywords: Shipping Network; Empty Container; Shipping Line; Destination Port; Trade Imbalance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-11891-8_6

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