2732. Empty Container Repositioning. Research agenda.
Invited abstract in session TA-32: Low- and zero-emission solutions for maritime operations-2, stream Maritime and Port Logistics.
Tuesday, 8:30-10:00Room: Maurice Keyworth 1.09
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Celia Jiménez-Piqueras
|
| Danmarks Tekniske Universitet | |
| 2. | Dario Pacino
|
| Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Technical University of Denmark |
Abstract
The transportation of containerized goods follows an iterative process that begins with a shipping company providing an exporter with an empty container. The exporter loads the container, which is then transported to the importer, who must return the empty container to the shipping company. The container is subsequently delivered to a new exporter, and the cycle repeats. However, some regions primarily export goods, while others mainly import them, creating an imbalance that necessitates the relocation of empty containers to meet exporters’ demands. This operation, known as Empty Container Repositioning (ECR), can significantly reduce costs for shipping companies when supported by effective decision-making. An efficient ECR strategy balances empty container stocks at import and export locations, preventing congestion in import areas and ensuring availability for exporters. Additionally, it can help reduce the container fleet size and the transportation of empty containers, leading to lower storage and maintenance costs and environmental impact. However, developing an efficient ECR strategy is challenging due to the scale of the problem and the uncertainty in empty container demand across locations. This study reviews scientific literature on ECR and identifies unmet needs of shipping companies, highlighting current challenges and proposing several research directions.
Keywords
- Logistics
- Maritime applications
Status: accepted
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