A Discrete Event Simulation Model for Evaluating Inland Terminal's efficiency: A Case Study of Ladkrabang Inland Container Depot

An inland terminal, or dry port, is one of main facilities in the logistical network of maritime transportation as it helps provide access between hinterland and the rest of the world via the seaports. While the impact of these inland terminal on the efficiency of multimodal transportation has recently become more evident, it is relatively challenging to evaluate dry port's performance, as it typically involves with many operations performed by different gate operators with different numbers of container handling equipment (CHE). To properly evaluate dry port's performance, in this paper, a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model is proposed and implemented in SIMIO modeling platform based on the current data of Ladkrabang Inland Container Depot (LICD), Thailand. According to our results, we have found that, currently, all CHE types at the LICD are not well utilized, especially the internal trucks, as the frequency of trains arriving at the LICD is still far too few. We also find that the utilization of CHE does not significant change as we vary the proportion of cargo transported by trains to trucks from 30:70 to 50:50, while maintaining total container flow. As such, we suggest that gate operators should form a CHE sharing agreement in order to improve CHE efficiency, and so the LICD's, which would be crucial for their survivability, especially after the post pandemic.

I. Introduction

While the main contributor of international trade is liner shipping company, the vast amount of goods traded could not be, however, transported directly from senders to receivers by just one transportation mode. Rather, all the traded goods are generally channeled through multiple routes with multiple modes of transportation requiring a number of transshipment at the so-called transportation hubs. These transportation hubs are crucially important in the logistical network of global trade, as they help expand the coverage of transportation and, at the same time, provide economies of scale for liner shipping companies – and so transportation cost for the shippers. The locations of these hubs are usually located at large seaports with efficient infrastructure allowing goods to be transshipped from cargo vessels to trains or trucks – and vice versa – for hinterland access.