The Alabama State Port Authority wants to increase the volume of coal moving through the McDuffie Island Coal Terminal. A perceived barrier to an increase in capcity is the number of tugboats for moving barges throughout the terminal. This paper presents a simulation model for evaluating the various tugboat alternatives for improving the velocity of coal through the terminal. Additionally, the simulation will examine other potential constraints to the flow of coal and identify opportunities for productivity improvement. Included in this paper are a description of the coal terminal, a description of the conceptual framework of the simulation model, the experimental design, unique modeling features and the analysis of the results.
Application of Simulation to Improve Volume Through a Seaport Coal Terminal