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Empty Container Repositioning

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Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics

Part of the book series: International Series in Operations Research & Management Science ((ISOR,volume 220))

Abstract

Empty container repositioning (ECR) is one of the most important issues in the liner shipping industry. Not only does it have an economic effect on the stakeholders in the container transport chain, but it also has an environmental and sustainability impact on the society since the reduction of empty container movements will reduce fuel consumption, and reduce congestion and emissions. This chapter first analyzes the main reasons that cause empty container repositioning. Secondly, we provide a literature review with the emphasis on modeling the ECR problem from the network scope, e.g. modeling ECR in seaborne transportation network, modeling ECR in inland or intermodal transportation network, and treating ECR as a sub-problem or a constraint under other decision-making problems. Thirdly, we discuss the solutions to the ECR problems from the logistics channel scope perspective, which are categorized into four groups including organizational solutions, intra-channel solutions, inter-channel solutions, and technological innovations. Fourthly, we discuss the solutions to the ECR problems from the modeling technique perspective, which includes two broad research streams: network flow models and inventory control-based models. We then present two specific models representing the above two research streams, which aim to tackle the ECR problems in stochastic dynamic environments considering both laden and empty container management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of Liverpool, Chatham Street, L69 7ZH, Liverpool, UK

    Dong-Ping Song

  2. Business School, Newcastle University, NE1 4SE, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Jing-Xin Dong

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  1. Dong-Ping Song
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Industrial Engineering & Logistics Mgmt, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR

    Chung-Yee Lee

  2. Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Qiang Meng

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Song, DP., Dong, JX. (2015). Empty Container Repositioning. In: Lee, CY., Meng, Q. (eds) Handbook of Ocean Container Transport Logistics. International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, vol 220. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11891-8_6

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