Simulation of Logging and Barge Transport of Wood from Forests on Islands

Logging on islands differs considerably from logging carried out on the mainland. The transportation of machines to the islands and between islands calls for special equipment. Furthermore, the long distance transport must be done simultaneously with logging, because the buffer raft between ground forwarding and vessel transport is very small and used also for the transport of logging machines and crews between islands. There are several options to arrange long distance waterway transport by using boats and various kinds of barges. In this study different vessel transport systems carrying wood from islands were studied by using discreteevent simulation. A new push barge system suitable for transport of wood from islands was compared to the current powered barge system. A three barges’ setting system gave the lowest harvesting costs when the transport distance exceeded 100 km. At shorter transport distances the current system was most competitive. Direct loading of barges by forwarders was cheaper than the use of a separater loader. Direct loading, however, requires new driving ramps and is not applicable everywhere.