Maritime Inventory Routing Problem Considering Weather Conditions and Tide at Ports

The maritime inventory routing problem (MIRP) has gained attention in several aspects during the last decades. The problem has numerous variations, typically instigated from real-world complications. This paper addresses MIRP to meet demand in different ports within the defined planning horizon. A mixed integer nonlinear programming model is developed with respect to different planning and routing constraints, loading/unloading restrictions, wave and wind forces limitations, tide constraints, and ship capacity constraints. To study the effects of wave angle, wind force, and tide, the top ten important ports in Iran and nearby ports have been considered as a sample. Optimization of the ship route is also done with respect to the weather conditions and tide. The results indicate that wind force and wave angle do not affect the routing and only change the ship speed and costs. The tide influences the route of vessels and also increases costs.

Automated summary

This paper addresses the maritime inventory routing problem (MIRP) and develops a mixed integer nonlinear programming model considering various constraints. Through studying ports in Iran and nearby areas, it is found that wind force and wave angle do not affect the routing, but only change the ship speed and costs. Tide, on the other hand, influences the route and increases costs.