Container are transferred and stored in the container terminal.

These two functions can be measured in terms of container handling and space utilization metrics. It is known that these two functions can pull the terminal resources in opposite directions. As an example: ground space utilization and container accessibility are inversely related [3]. Physical characteristics of a port can also impose constraints to terminal operators. Additionally the geographic location and type of traffic in a port can result in greater demand. It is foremost important to define clear service levels and productivity goals in order to invest resources in a productive matter as opposed to reaching for conflicting objectives. Given that an increase in through put is expected the port might face a capacity constraint issue. For this reason priority should be placed on existing or potential bottle necks. Port resources can be analyzed separately taking into account 5 major components: berth capacity, crane capacity, yard capacity, gate capacity and crew capacity [4]. Conditional on the type of data available several metrics can be utilized or estimated to rank these five resources by their available capacity. It is suggested to find an estimate of Moves per year (TEU/year or moves/year) that characterized each component. These number can be directly compared to the predicted yearly throughput. In absence of such a metric, a potential indicator of limited resource can be current utilization rate versus idle time. Resources currently acting as bottle neck will exhibit higher utilization rates where operations preceding these will have greater idle time. Based on what resource or resources are limiting several alternatives can be explored. Limiting Resource Berth area and/or Quay crane Recommended Action Increase the number of quay cranes Enable two container lifts Enable dual command cycles in quay crane (small vessel moored in parallel) Spread container over a larger area (reduce stacking height) Increase number of yard trucks Enable dual command truck trips Increase number of gantry cranes Stack container higher Increase berthing priority for loading(export) vessels Enforce penalties on carries to reduce days container sits in the yard

Yard area: Extensive handling times

Reduced area

Table 5

Berthing and crane operations are close related and hence identifying either of these components as a bottle neck will require similar actions. Investing resources in any of these operations results in shorter vessel turnaround times. When we consider yard operations conflicting objectives might come into play. In the case that yard area is identified as a bottleneck resource, then it must be determined whether space of handling times are most limiting. Yard space constraint can be most apparent to the naked eye. Many ports struggle to increase yard space due to geographical, infrastructure and environmental constraints. At a cost of increased handling times, containers can be stacked higher in order to save yard space. If in addition yard and gantry cranes are scarce, additional measures can be taken to reduce the time a container sit in the yard (presented in table 5). Apart from yard space, handling times can be restrictive given the amount of yard truck and number and type of gantry cranes available. Idle times and utilization rates can expose if any of these two resources is particularly limited. If trucks represent a bottleneck, dual command cycles can be implemented to increase their productivity. In the case where gantry crane capacity exceeds truck capacity by a significant amount, it could be feasible to move two containers per truck trip. On the other hand gantry cranes operations can be affected by many factors. Firstly, the spreading of container in the yard can reduce the number of lifts necessary to access a particular container. Comparing the number of lifts of gantry cranes per truck trip will reveal such a behavior. Secondly, different gantry cranes configurations can be more flexible than others (rubber-tired versus rail-mounted). If gantry cranes exhibit significant idle items, even though they are identified as a bottleneck resource, then adding flexibility would be the solution.