Container Storage Optimization in the Mediterranean Port: The Case of Algeria

Abstract

Efficient management of storage areas in container terminals is a major strategic challenge for modern seaports. This paper focuses on optimizing container storage, with the primary objective of reducing reshuffles (or unproductive movements), defined as additional movements of containers located at the top of a container stack that block access to another container beneath that needs to be retrieved. Reducing these movements not only improves operational performance but also helps lower the energy consumption of handling equipment, thereby enhancing the environmental sustainability of port infrastructure. We propose an original mathematical formulation of the Container Storage Problem (CSP) that considers the departure dates of the top two levels of each container stack in order to anticipate and reduce the number of reshuffles. Since the problem is NP-hard, we develop a hybrid solution approach that combines exact solution methods for small instances with a metaheuristic based on simulated annealing for larger, more complex instances. Our method is tested on a real case study involving the Algerian port of Ghazaouet, located on the southern shore of the Mediterranean sea, which serves as a key hub in Euro-Mediterranean trade. The experimental results show that the proposed simulated annealing algorithm is capable of producing high-quality solutions within very reasonable computation times.