The future of maritime facility designs and operations

Cargo in ocean going vessels continues to grow in volume. The typical current growth rate of 6% to 7% per year is expected to continue through the next decade or more, resulting in a doubling of total throughput volume. Facing this incredible growth, port authorities, railroads, and all levels of government agencies (municipal, regional, state, federal) are searching for solutions to an impending traffic nightmare. Proposed solutions range from new infrastructure inventions to improved and technology assisted operating procedures. In order to review and validate the potential success of these ideas, computer simulation is increasingly a key tool. Simulation is allowing experimentation in infrastructure, technology and operations without the millions of dollars in actual construction. In addition, with the high level of competition in the industry and the razor thin margins which decide not only mode of transport but the choice of specific carriers, ports, railroads and trucking companies, simulation allows for experimentation without the potential penalty of lost productivity and customer share. The paper outlines two major concepts in handling the future cargo volumes: big ships and fast ships.