• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.445-453
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• 2020

The use of tugboats for the safe berthing/unberthing of ships is the most crucial factor in the safe and efficient operation of the harbor. However, the adequate number and size of tugboats that should be held based on the characteristics of the port have not been investigated in detail, which causes disputes between involved parties. Therefore, the suitable number of tugboats and the ratio of the tugboat horsepower were determined in this study using simulation techniques, with focus on Ulsan Port. First, the ship and tugboat-operating models were designed for simulation application. Next, the input variables defined in the model design were standardized in an inputtable form using ARENA software. In addition, the arrival and division process of the ship was designed and simulated as an ARENA model. Finally, the simulation results for six scenarios showed that an effective tugboat operation could be achieved when 42 tugboats were held at Ulsan Port.