Making a decision on the transshipment of bulk cargoes through a container terminal based on a systematic approach

This study addresses the assessment of optimal decision-making for the organization of delivery and transshipment of bulk cargoes through a sea container terminal using a systematic approach. The topic is relevant due to declining container traffic at domestic seaports and the need to explore the potential use of freed port capacities for handling cargoes that are not typical for such facilities, particularly packaged and bulk fertilizers from manufacturing plants located deep in the hinterland or beyond its borders. Applying a systematic approach as an effective problem-solving tool allows the complex process of forming a transport system for product promotion to be divided into several subsystems, each addressing specific tasks. In particular, subsystems for transporting bulk cargo to the terminal and conducting loading and unloading operations at the seaport are considered to identify a single optimal technology for the overall process. It is emphasized that decisions regarding organization and management of the technology cannot rely solely on assessments of the production capabilities of individual links in the cargo promotion chain; instead, a comprehensive analysis of all system components is required. In this study, decisions regarding delivery and transshipment of bulk cargoes through the container terminal are proposed to be based on preliminary assessments of the capacities of cargo handling complexes included in the transport system. The conclusion highlights that achieving the planned volumes of bulk cargo delivery and shipment with minimal time and cost is possible only when all factors affecting the system’s operation as a whole are considered.