The design and development of an offshore port terminal is a complex task that involves distinctive design and decision challenges. In this paper, we propose the implementation of a floating, modular, platform that can act as an additional terminal of a port, with the aim of expanding its current container handling capacity. To this end, we introduce a generic methodology to tackle three aspects of an offshore terminal: terminal layout design, strategic logistics optimization, and operational process coordination. The terminal layout design includes the modular arrangements, handling on and between platform modules by the associated equipment. To select the final layout design concept, we evaluate different alternatives on criteria such as layout complexity, scalability, and the number of moves associated with the modular nature of the platform. Subsequently, the selected concept is given as input to a strategic logistics optimization approach that introduces a mixed-integer linear programming model. The proposed model minimizes the capital, operational, and maintenance costs of the floating modular terminal, i.e., number and size of modules, number and type of equipment, as well as capacities. In parallel, we develop a simulation of the floating terminal’s hinterland connections, where the number and type of required vessels are specified for relevant destinations and transport configurations. At the operational level, we focus on the coordination of handling equipment on the offshore platform by employing a tailored simulation/optimization approach. Our methodology is demonstrated on a case study that considers accommodating the growth of a port in the Hamburg-Le Havre range via the use of a modular, floating, transport, and logistics hub.@en

Port terminals on floating modular platforms are a conceivable solution for the problem of limited space and water depths restrictions of ports in estuary regions. A design of a dedicated Transport&Logistic hub has been developed in the scope of the Horizon 2020 project Space@Sea. This paper addresses dedicated options of waterborne hinterland transports and discusses opportunities for bypassing onshore terminals by means of river-sea or sea-going inland vessels. A tailored simulation method for ship operations utilises a specific cost model and is applied to derived demand scenarios. Cargo flow statistics of an onshore port have been projected onto the hub to identify relevant waterborne transports to the hinterland. Three different vessel types are implemented, whereas inland vessels are considered with two different sizes. A comparison of round trip durations and transport costs per transported container between a floating terminal and a relevant hinterland port pointed out, that a non-stop connection with sea-going inland vessels is the economically favourable solution. A feeder vessel is the faster solution in coastal waters but it can not compensate the time saved by omitted terminal visits on a direct hinterland connection.

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