Optimal shipping routes and vessel size for intermodal barge transport with empty container repositioning

Despite the growing role of barge transportation in the hinterland access of major seaports in Northwestern Europe, service network design for intermodal barge transportation has received little research attention. In this paper, a decision support model for service network design in intermodal barge transportation is presented. The model determines optimal shipping routes for roundtrip services between a major seaport and several hinterland ports located along a single waterway. Vessel capacity and service frequency decisions may be analyzed by the model. A case study on the hinterland network of the port of Antwerp in Belgium is discussed. The decision support model is applied from the perspective of barge operators as well as from the perspective of shipping lines that offer door-to-door transport services. In the latter case, empty container repositioning decisions are taken into account. Numerical experiments are presented to indicate how the model may be used in practice. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.