Container Terminal Capacity Analysis Study

The container terminal serves the need of moving containers through multiple transportation infrastructures. It functions as intermodal terminal where containers are transferred between ship and truck or train. The overall performance for a container terminal requires sufficient physical capacity and sustainable operational capacity. Because the terminal operation is a consolidation of multiple subsidiary systems that are integrated with some operation conflicts, a single dysfunctional facility can limit the overall capacity of the terminal.  In order to mitigate the conflicts and accommodate the continuing growth in containers volume, terminal operators attempt to develop capacity planning strategy. So that, a model can simulate the complex container terminal operations for terminal capacity planning.  In regard to the potential development and expansion of terminal Ginza, which is one of the existing terminals that located in the US Gulf Coast, this paper evaluates the correlation between terminal characteristics and terminal performance through structural equation modeling. We are going to assess the capacity of the existing facilities of terminal Ginza and propose the possible measures and strategies for terminal capacity improvement over the 20-years period.