Abstract: In this paper, we apply the split-platform automated storage/retrieval systems (SP-AS/RSs) (Hu et al., 2005) to store containers in the yard to improve the yard performance and to increase the utilization of the yard space. The layout of an SP-AS/RS based yard is described in detail. To achieve an efficient operation, we present a novel yard space allocation policy called the ‘second-carrier-based allocation policy’, which can help to alleviate the out-of-sequence problem of containers and the congestion of vehicles at the AS/RS racks. Different allocation policies are compared by an integrated container terminal simulation system. The simulation results show that the second-carrier-based policy is very efficient and has the potential to offer high terminal performance.

Key words: Container terminal, Automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS), Yard planning, Transportation system

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