INFORM selected to provide optimization package for DP World Vancouver

Photo: INFORM

The company will deliver three Optimization Modules as part of DP World’s Centerm Expansion Project (CEP), chosen from its Syncrotess solution range for container terminal operations.

Implementation works began in April 2020 and are expected to finish in early 2021. Syncrotess is comprised of multiple "add-on" optimization modules capable of optimizing almost all aspects of a container terminals operations. The selected optimizers include the Train Load Optimizer, Rail Scheduler and Vehicle Optimizer. According to Joel Werner, Director, Engineering & Projects, DP World Canada, these will be a key component of the expansion.

CEP aims to increase the handling capacity at the Centerm container terminal to 1.5m TEU, an increase of nearly 65% from its pre-project capacities while only increasing the terminals footprint by a mere 15%. Significant reconfiguration, along multiple road work projects and the extension and modernization of the intermodal rail facilities were necessary to make this possible.

Dr. Eva Savelsberg, SVP Logistic Division, INFORM, noted in a press release, that the project is the company's third major undertaking in the North American market.

The three chose optimizers offer a variety of features. Yard workload will be minimized due to the Train Load Optimizer's ability to choose amongst the available rail-containers at the terminal those that should be considered for train stowage. It is also capable of determining the optimal allocation for the containers on the associated outgoing train and updates this allocation after the commencement of train loading if needed.

The Rail Scheduler optimization module focuses on the optimization of train unloading and loading processes that reach out to the chain of transports between the yard blocks and the rail tracks and vice versa. Additionally, the module bundles different aspects of rail operations, such as crane optimization, train load planning and yard loadout and proposes intelligent solutions accordingly.

Last but not least, the Vehicle Optimizer considers all executable internal transfer vehicles (ITV) and proposes an optimized sequence of these jobs amongst the fleet with a planned complete time for each ITV. Benefits include reduction of vehicle idle times and ITV's total travel distance.