Helsinki Foldable Container Off-Network Procurement

Do foldable containers reduce repositioning costs?

In our ECR problem, the shipping company considers both transporting loaded containers and repositioning of empty containers over a planning horizon. Because empty repositioning incurs costs and consumes vessel capacity, foldable containers are used to reduce repositioning costs.

How to reduce the cost of repositioning empty containers?

There are many efforts to reduce the cost of repositioning empty containers, one of which is a foldable container. Foldable containers can be transported in a package such that a few folded containers occupy the same volume as one standard container.

What are the operating costs of a foldable container?

zitF inventory level of foldable containers at port iat the end of period t The total operating cost consists of consists of transportation, repositioning, holding, penalty, folding, and unfolding costs. The transportation costs consist of expenses incurred during container flow.

How do foldable containers affect a shipping company's decision-making process?

The introduction of foldable containers affects the operational-level planning decisions at shipping companies, which makes the decision process very complex. The flow of loaded containers is a source of empty containers at the destined port, and the vessel capacity is shared by loaded and empty containers.