Journal of Transportation Research

Journal of Transportation Research

Application of Discrete Event Simulation in Optimizing Maritime, Port and Shipping Operations

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyede Masoome Sadaghi 1
Mona Moghadam 2
1 Assistant Professor, Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
2 Research Expert, Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/tri.2026.587313.3470
Abstract
Given the critical role of ports in the global supply chain and the ever-increasing volume of maritime trade, optimizing port operations is of paramount importance. Discrete Event Simulation (DES) is an effective tool for analyzing and improving the efficiency of such complex systems. This research aims to investigate the application of DES in optimizing shipping, port and maritime transportation operations.
The study begins with a systematic review of relevant research on modeling and simulation in the port sector, explaining the role of hybrid approaches like DES–DEA in analyzing terminal efficiency. Subsequently, a sample model is simulated using Arena software. This model incorporates processes such as vessel arrivals, tugboat allocation, berthing and operational delays. Input parameters are defined based on statistical distributions derived from credible scientific studies and available statistical data to represent the real-world performance pattern of a port. This example demonstrates the capabilities of simulation for developing dynamic resource allocation policies to enhance productivity in ports and maritime transport. In conclusion, Discrete Event Simulation proves to be an efficient tool for supporting managerial decision-making and designing optimal resource allocation strategies in the port and maritime domain.
Keywords
Queueing Theory
Discrete Event Simulation
Port Operations Optimization
Arena Software
Subjects
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Journal of Transportation Research
Volume 23, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 173-184