Optimization of fleet operational planning using information technologies

Abstract

This article considers the possibility of reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of vessel utilization through optimal fleet deployment using a mathematical model and optimization methods. When planning the next voyage, a signed contract is not always available; the deal may still be under negotiation. In this work, contracts for voyage planning were divided into clean recap and transportation requests. The economic-mathematical model aims to maximize profit by optimizing fleet deployment and selecting the most advantageous contracts, provided that the available fleet can fulfill all clean recaps. The calculations consider conditions such as laycan, port operations on weekends, commencement of laytime, and the operating region. In addition, a distinctive feature is that requests are associated with a specific vessel project, which allows reducing the problem size in case of limited computer resources. In other words, the calculation is not performed for the entire process as a whole but is divided into sub-tasks, processing only requests related to a single project. Furthermore, in today's environment, sanctions risks must be taken into account. The existence of relevant restrictions for the countries that have imposed these sanctions will allow for a more realistic assessment of the feasibility of a specific voyage by a specific vessel.