Constraint programming approach to quay crane scheduling problem

This study presents a constraint programming (CP) model for the quay crane scheduling problem (QCSP), which occurs at container terminals, with realistic constraints such as safety margins, travel times and precedence relations. Next, QCSP with time windows and integrated crane assignment and scheduling problem, are discussed. The performance of the CP model is compared with that of algorithms presented in QCSP literature. The results of the computational experiments indicate that the CP model is able to produce good results while reducing the computational time, and is a robust and flexible alternative for different types of crane scheduling problems. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.