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Volume :6 Issue : 3 1999
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Fleet Management Mathematical Programming Model for Routing and Scheduling an Ocean Transportation Petroleum Problem
Auther : Merza H. Hasan
Salem M. Al-Yakoob
This paper investigates a mathematical programming model for the routing and scheduling of oil tankers in a maritime transportation system. A literature survey on seaborne transportation system indicates a noticeable scarcity of research on ship routing and scheduling problems. The size and complexity of a typical ship routing and scheduling problems are the primary reasons that have resulted in the scarcity of research in this area. This research effort is focused on the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) oil tanker routing and scheduling problem. This problem is of great economic importance to the state of Kuwait, whose economy has been to a large extent dominated by the oil sector, and hence any improvement in the present ad-hoc scheduling procedure has the potential for significant savings. An integer linear programming model for the KPC problem is constructed, wherein most of the essential operational attributes are represented. The integer programming model attempts to maximally utilize the KPC owned vessels, decides on the (optimal) number and types of chartered vessels needed along with the owned vessels to satisfy total demand. The mathematical model can be utilized for the routing and scheduling of vessels as well as for planning, managing and negotiating purposes.