Optimal Scheduling of Electric Harbour Craft Fleet Operations

Transforming the transportation sector plays an important role in achieving zero emissions in the race against climate change, in which maritime decarbonization draws attention to the promising area of harbour craft electrification. Compared to road electrification, harbour craft electrification is relatively new and brings new challenges due to its unique characteristics. One of the challenges is integrating refueling technology and fleet management with constraints from vessels, infrastructure, and operational profiles. In this context, the paper explores the operation philosophy and proposes a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for co-optimizing harbour craft fleet management and refueling technology using fast and slow charging at different times of the day. Simulation results with data from a real electric harbour craft stress the importance of operational profiles and provide insights for decision-makers in specifying charging infrastructures and fleets.