Optimum Number and Capacity of Seaport Berths

Abstract

The amount of general cargo that is handled in a port with several public wharfs dynamically fluctuates according to such variables as the national economic program, the location and trading custom of the port, and the land use programs of the hinterland. Therefore, the optimum number of berths which must be constructed in a public wharf needs to be obtained rapidly, reflecting the variation of cargo demands. In this study, a methodology to find the optimum tonnage capacity of general cargo, which should be handled with a specific number of berths, is developed and convenient graphs called “optimum berth capacity curves” are obtained.