Evaluating port development strategies for a modal shift: a Norwegian case study

Abstract

We study the design of a multi-modal distribution network for the transportation of incoming containers from a container terminal to nearby customer regions. The motivation for the study has been the relocation of the existing cargo terminal in the Port of Bergen, which is expected to increase the road transportation need in the region. To mitigate the consequences of increased driving distances, maritime solutions have been suggested as replacements for truck transportation, but as no such concepts currently exists, more knowledge and insight is needed. Therefore, in this paper we propose a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model for optimizing and evaluating strategies for a modal shift in the final stage of the supply chain, i.e. the short distance final distribution from the main terminal to the customer regions. We use it on the case study for the Port of Bergen to analyze whether it is possible to come up with solutions where a significant share of the distribution is done by small electric (and possibly autonomous) container ships instead of trucks. The analyses indicate that a multi-modal distribution network can be a cost-effective option for this particular case..