PhD Thesis Defense Eelco van Asperen on Port, Container, and Bulk Chemical Logistics Optimization

On November 18, Eelco van Asperen defended his PhD thesis entitled "Essays on Port, Container, and Bulk Chemical Logistics Optimization". His promotor is Prof.dr.ir. R. Dekker, Professor of Operations Research, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University. Other members of the doctoral committee are Prof. dr. ir. U. Kaymak, Prof. dr. H. Haralambides and Prof. dr. S. Voß.

In his dissertation, Eelco van Asperen deals with two central themes in port logistics, namely the coordination of transport arrivals with the distribution processes and the use of storage facilities and second, the uncertainty associated with the arrival time of ships with bulk chemicals and the impact on port logistics. In each part, simulation methods are used, for example to reduce unnecessary movements of containers in the situation of incomplete information.

He also presents the "floating stocks" distribution concept. In this concept, intermodal transport is used to deploy inventories in a supply chain in advance of retailer demand. The main drawback of intermodal transport is large transit times. This disadvantage is diminished by the "floating stocks" concept as it reduces the transit times. Consequently, it also influences the choice of a port: van Asperen provides a quantitative interpretation of routing flexibility in port selection.

About Eelco van Asperen
Eelco van Asperen (April 11, 1965, Rotterdam) studied Administrative Science at Erasmus University Rotterdam (graduated in 1993). From 1990 to 2000, he was a software expert at the Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University. In 2000, he became assistant professor at ESE. Eelco has provided education and training for multiple courses and participated in various projects. As of September 1, 2009 he works as a lecturer at the Centre for Maritime Economics & Logistics, Erasmus University Rotterdam. His research focuses on the use of sea containers in logistics.

Abstract
The essays in this thesis are concerned with two main themes in port logistics. The first theme is the coordination of transport arrivals with the distribution processes and the use of storage facilities. We study this for both containerized and bulk chemical transport. The second theme is the uncertainty associated with the arrival time of ships with bulk chemicals and the impact on port logistics. Each essay describes a case study where quantitative methods, especially simulation, are used.

The operation of container terminals and in particular the way in which containers are stacked in a yard is influenced by information about the departure of a container. We find that even inaccurate information is valuable and helps to reduce unproductive moves.

Next, we present the ``floating stocks'' distribution concept which uses intermodal transport to deploy inventories in a supply chain in advance of retailer demand. We demonstrate that a main drawback of intermodal transport, a longer transit time, can be mitigated using this concept. This concept also influences the choice of a port: we provide a quantitative interpretation of routing flexibility in port selection.

More information
Pictures of the defense
Full text of the dissertation