Increasing the capacity of terminal for bulk cargo unloading

Work of the ports (terminals) with its optimal capacity assumes prompt accommodation of vessels with minimal waiting time in the port and with maximal use of berth facilities, i.e. bigger unloading capacity. The way, how capacity of the river terminals for bulk cargo unloading call be increased, without new capital costs by introducing the strategy ill the work of the unloading devices, is presented. Hierarchical structure of the system is connected with phases of servicing and stochastic character of the input/output values is underlined. Simulation model of the terminal work with strategy is developed. This results in shorter time needed for vessel unloading and therefore bigger unloading capacity of the terminal. Some of obtained results are applied and verified on existing system. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.