A maximal-space algorithm for the container loading problem

In this paper, a greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) for the container loading problem is presented. This approach is based on a constructive block heuristic that builds upon the concept of maximal space, a nondisjoint representation of the free space in a container. This new algorithm is extensively tested over the complete set of Bischoff and Ratcliff problems [Bischoff, E. E., M. S. W. Ratcliff. 1995. Issues in the development of approaches to container loading. Omega 23 377-390], ranging from weakly heterogeneous to strongly heterogeneous cargo, and outperforms all the known nonparallel approaches that, partially or completely, have used this set of test problems. When comparing against parallel algorithms, it is better on average but not for every class of problem. In terms of efficiency, this approach runs in much less computing time than that required by parallel methods. Thorough computational experiments concerning the evaluation of the impact of algorithm design choices and internal parameters on the overall efficiency of this new approach are also presented.