An Efficient Integer Programming Model for Solving the Master Planning Problem of Container Vessel Stowage

TL;DR

This paper presents a new integer programming model for container vessel stowage planning that improves efficiency and optimality by incorporating practical block stowage patterns, addressing a gap in existing models.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel 0-1 integer programming model called template planning that effectively includes block stowage constraints in vessel master planning.

Findings

Template planning outperforms traditional methods in optimality.

Template planning reduces runtime compared to existing models.

The model accurately captures key vessel capacity and safety constraints.

Abstract

A crucial role of container shipping is maximizing container uptake onto vessels, optimizing the efficiency of a fundamental part of the global supply chain. In practice, liner shipping companies include block stowage patterns that ensure that containers in above and below deck partitions of bays have the same destination. Despite preventing restows, increasing free space, and benefits for crane makespan and hydrostatics, this practical planning requirement is rarely included in stowage optimization models. In our paper, we introduce a novel 0-1 IP model that searches in the space of valid paired block stowage patterns, named template planning, which ensures sufficient vessel capacity and limits to crane makespan, trim, and bending moment. Our results show that template planning outperforms traditional allocation planning concerning optimality and runtime efficiency while preserving a sufficiently accurate representation of master planning constraints and objectives.