Optimising port terminal operations

• Overview 
• Skills and experience 
• Capabilities in ports optimisation

Overview

Bulk material logistics for coal, minerals or agricultural commodities are complex; they pose substantial challenges for terminal operators and supply chain planners.

There is often pressure to reduce operating costs. By understanding the true throughput capacity relative to the current versus theoretical capacity, the gap between them can be represented as reduced demurrage costs, significantly faster loading and ship turnaround and therefore net revenue increases.

CSIRO is undertaking research into stockyard optimisation systems including:

• stockyard scheduling
• stockpile modelling
• optimal stockpile blending.

This research is producing smart tools that will help businesses maximise the efficiency of their stockyard scheduling, stockyard configuration and supply chain design.

Skills and experience

CSIRO has created innovative simulation and optimisation models which can maximise system throughput and provide time and cost effective solutions to deal with growing demand and expansion at port terminals.

To deliver these outcomes, the resulting software performs analyses to optimise:

• stockpile layout over time to make the most efficient use of stockyard space
• optimising the use of yard machines such as stackers, reclaimers, train load out stations and ship loading facilities in order to minimise machine conflicts and maximise throughput. The software observes constraints on the use of the facilities and allows for maintenance
• streamline rail schedules to interface with the stockyard operational requirements while observing rail transport capacity constraints.

By optimising these areas of the supply chain, the software can minimise the demurrage costs associated with delayed ship loading and also provide disruption management capabilities to rapidly recover from unplanned outages and breakdowns.

Capabilities in ports optimisation

• Stockpile modelling
  CSIRO has developed a computer program for modelling the blending function of stockpiles. Called CHASM (Cone-Handling Algorithm for Stockpile Modelling), the program can model several types of stacking and reclaiming, keeping track of the geometry of a stockpile as material is stacked and reclaimed from the pile.

• Grade control
  CHASM can ensure grade control across the supply chain by calculating how much of each load reclaimed came from each batch of material stacked. The grade of loads of material reclaimed can then be calculated, using information about the grade of the batches stacked. CHASM can also be useful for keeping track of inventories of bulk materials.

• Comparing stockpiling practices
  CHASM can be used at the time of planning a bulk materials handling operation to help estimate the amount of variation likely to occur after the new facility has been constructed. It is particularly useful for considering different stockpiling options and aiding in the estimation of the benefit of using better stockpiling practices. CHASM can also compare methods of stacking and options for staggering the stacking limits.

• Long Term Capacity Planning
  CSIRO’s has developed innovative optimisation models that can help port operators identify the capacity requirements, and most cost effective capacity improvement initiatives to meet the demand while minimising the total cost of infrastructure and demurrage.

• Operational Scheduling
  CSIRO has developed models and algorithms that can assist schedulers in developing optimal schedules for their day-to-day operations. These algorithms reduce the time taken to develop schedules, but its fast execution time also allows schedulers to test the outcomes of various planning strategies before finalising the schedule.

Learn more about CSIRO's work in capital intensive supply chains.

Contact Information

Related Links

• CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics & Statistics

• Advanced Decision Support
• Adaptive supply networks overview