Analytical model of servicing export cargo in sea ports

Problem. Large turnovers of export bulk cargoes in Ukrainian ports underline the necessity to improve cargo services provided by port operators. The first step of solving it is identifying the processes, the elements of cargo services and their formalization in time considering the case-and-effort relationships. Goal. To create a formalized description of the process and operations related to the maintenance of a contract consignment of export cargo in a sea port is in their mutual connection and mutual conditionality. Methodology. The tool of temporal logic was used to formalize the processes and operations of export bulk cargo servicing by stevedoring company (port operator) that helps to model the process within cause-and-effect relationships between components of the cargo servicing process. Results. The paper studies the main activity of the port operator at the operational level – the shipment for export of the contract cargo consignment. This process from the point of view of the port operator is presented as consisting of three components – the arrival of the contract consignment of cargo to the port; finding the consignment at the port; direct loading onto the vessel. For each of the named stages, the time points of its beginning and finishing are fixed, and the functions of the port operator are also defined. Each of the components is formalized in terms of temporal logic as a continuous process, and the finishing of one component is the beginning of the next stage, which ensures the interdependence of individual components of cargo shipment by the port operator. The receipt of the contract consignment of cargo (and, accordingly, all subsequent stages of its shipment) are not possible without a contract for cargo handling concluded with the port operator and confirmation of the possibility of acceptance the cargo. The stage of finding the contract consignment of port cargo is accompanied by the provision of additional services, which are provided by the port operator upon request and in accordance with the instructions of the cargo owner. The direct loading of the contracted consignment of cargo onto the vessel is actually the main type of production activity of the port operator at the operational level, the implementation of which is also accompanied by a certain set of additional related services. Originality. Cargo handling in ports is firstly presented as a formalized complex of interrelated processes in their logical sequence, starting from the moment of arrival of the contract consignment of export cargo at the port and finishing with its shipment to the sea vessel. Practical value. The obtained results can be used by port operators for the development of relevant technological schemes of cargo handling, in particular their digitalization, as well as monitoring of the process in consideration in order to identify "bottlenecks" and develop measures to eliminate them.