Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ Mathematicsarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
Mathematics
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
addClaim

Ship Scheduling and Refueling for Container Liner Cold Chain Shipping

Authors: De-Chang Li; Fang-Fang Jiao; Yong-Bo Ji; Yan Wu; Hua-Long Yang;

Ship Scheduling and Refueling for Container Liner Cold Chain Shipping

Abstract

Liner shipping companies commonly pursue strategies such as forming strategic alliances and attracting new customers to strengthen competitiveness and improve operational performance. However, in the shipping of perishable goods, inadequate ship scheduling and bunker management can result in substantial customer loss and increased operational costs. This paper examines a scenario in which a large volume of perishable goods is shipped by liner ships. The specific demand characteristics of perishable goods—requiring rapid port handling and expedited shipping—are analyzed. To address these challenges, we propose a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model to optimize ship scheduling and refueling decisions for liner cold chain services under cooperative agreements. The model minimizes total liner shipping service costs while explicitly accounting for the decay of perishable goods. Nonlinear elements are linearized using a piecewise linear secant approximation, enabling efficient solution of the model with commercial solvers. Numerical experiments based on the AEU6 route operated by China COSCO Shipping Group validate the model and provide practical managerial insights. The results indicate that: (1) incorporating collaborative agreements can reduce total route service costs by 4.5% and total port handling costs by 7.5%, while also lowering late arrival penalties and losses from perishable goods decay; (2) joint consideration of refueling strategies and collaborative agreements improves both decision flexibility and solution accuracy; (3) the shipping of perishable goods has differentiated effects across voyage legs, highlighting the need for liner shipping companies to enhance cooperation with ports and refine bunker fuel procurement planning; and (4) it is essential to improve ship performance and appropriately design bunker fuel tank capacity to respond to dynamic changes in the shipping market.

Related Organizations
  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    2
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
2
Top 10%
Average
Average
gold