Optimization model for empty container repositioning

Empty container management is a transportation issue relating to the imbalance of container demand and supply in various parts of the world. Hence the necessity for shippers to move empty containers to supply areas. The purpose of this research is to develop a decision support tool applying to intermodal freight transport. This project aims at minimizing the overall cost of empty container management in the hinterlands of the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. The proposed model is a two-stage stochastic network model which takes account of transit time between ports and terminals, shipping cost, the carrying capacity of the various modes of transport, the stochastic demand and supply of each terminal and port as well as other parameters such as substitution or holding costs. In addition, the proposed model considers the possibility of intermodality with road transportation. Along with the optimal solution, our experimental data should yield an understanding of the impact of costs on the repartition of ows and inventories