Anchorage-Ship-Berth Link as Multiple Server Queuing System

The development of a commercial port to its optimum capacity with minimum capital costs is basically contingent upon the efficient loading/unloading of ships. This function is dependent primarily on the number of berths in the port available to ship traffic and the cargo handling capacity. A port must be planned to satisfy prompt accommodation of ships with minimum waiting time in the port and with maximum use of berth facilities. This paper discusses the anchorage-ship-berth link at the river port utilizing queuing theory with bulk arrival. A general model of the terminal is developed. The process is described by the nonstationary, multichannel queuing system. This system has the following characteristics: waiting areas are finite and given, unit bulk arrival into the system is assumed, and arriving ships or barge tows are not allowed into the system if k > (n + m) − s, where k is the number of ships or barge tows arriving at the same time (bulk arrival). All of the main characteristics of the system are given.