ASSESSMENT OF CONTAINER SHIP AND EQUIPMENT FLEET SIZE

The problem of evaluation of container ships and equipment fleet required for the successful container line activity on a certain route is considered in the paper. The analysis allows us to reveal specific features of this traditional task in the case of new transportation technology based on containerization. The basic mathematical formulas, which connect the number of ships and containers necessary to serve given cargo flow of container shipping line with its characteristics, are considered. The suggested method of this problem is illustrated with an example of simple container shipping route, connecting two ports, but the results stay true for more complicated cases (for example, for the round trip, connecting several ports). Particularly, the suggested method can be used as an instrument for comparative analysis of different variants of shipping line organization. The suggested method can be expanded in order to analyze the complex hierarchical configurations of shipping lines, which include several feeder and trunk routes. The verification of methods adequacy is done with utilization of specific simulation model. The results of simulation are represented in the paper. The described argumentation is valid for the regular and deterministic cargo flow. At the same time, container transportation can be characterized with significant variation of container party volumes. These variations can dramatically affect the necessary number of container equipment. In order to include these fluctuations, the method can be expanded with simulation modeling, which allows us to evaluate probability distribution of necessary number of ships and containers.

containerization, linear transportation, calculation of ships, calculations of containers, container line, simulation modelling, shipping management, containerships, shipping routes

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