• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.42-55
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• 2010

This paper primarily deals with a decision-making for determining the number of voyages in each ship size under a specific port structure in order to minimize the total transport cost consisting of transport cost at sea, queuing cost in port, and inventory cost in yard. As a result of computer simulation using queuing model characterized by inter-arrival time distribution, we were able to find out some combination of voyage numbers of 3 ship-size(50,000-ton, 100,000-ton, and 200,000-ton), where the total transport cost can be minimized under a specific port structure. The simulation model also allows us to figure out any trade-off relationship among sea transport cost, queuing cost in port, and inventory cost in yard. Put it differently, an attempt to reduce the sea transport cost by increasing the number of voyages of the largest ship size, the transport cost incurred in both port and yard is hypothesized to be increased and vice versa. Consequently, Port managers are required to adjust the number of annual number of voyages allocated in each ship size, put into the sea lines for importing raw materials, in order to optimize the transport costs incurred under the specific port system. We may consider a net present value(NPV) model for performing an economic feasibility analysis on port investment project. If a total discounted net benefit, including cost savings, exceeds the initial investment for an additional berth construction, then we accept the port investment project. Otherwise, we reject the proposed port investment plan.