A Port System Simulation Facility With An Optimization Capability

This paper details the optimisation of bulk material port handling systems through the use of a metaheuristic based approach. The effective management of port systems requires effective solutions for the design, operation and maintenance of these facilities. This has to be achieved through a reduction in financial costs, and an increase in the utilisation of equipment and other resources. The operation of a port system is complex and difficult to model mathematically. Consequently, through the explicit characterisation of port components, a port modelling tool was developed that permits the generic construction of port simulation models. An evolutionary approach based on a genetic algorithm was developed to provide an optimisation capability to the port simulation tool. Two case studies based on real world port systems are presented and the results are discussed. Through the action of the genetic algorithm on the port system model, the operation of the port can be significantly improved this includes equipment replacement and operational scheduling. A significant improvement is demonstrated in both the operational and economic performance as a result of the GA/model interaction.