Analytical models for Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo terminals in a multipurpose port

摘要

Freight transport plays an important role in the transport system, insofar as it is a fundamental element for the economic development of an area and a country in general. In Italy over 80% of freight travels by road, despite the country's 7400-km coastline which is particularly suited to short-sea shipping. The ports are organized as freight interchange centres: they are equipped to integrate with road transport for the initial and final links, and use sea and rail routes for long distances. The elements that form an integrated freight transport system, whether it be multimodal (freight transfer by two or more transport systems), "complex" monomodal (freight transfer that uses only one mode of transport but with different vehicles) or intermodal (freight transfer that uses more than one transport mode but using the same container) or combined definited also piggyback transport (intermodal transport by means of container, swap body or semitrailer, and using road for final haulage, and rail or sea for the intermediate leg), can be aggregated into three categories: Loading Unit (UL); Movement Units (UM); Transportation Units (UT). The freight transport systems that use more than one mode have acquired greater importance as they lead to a total reduction in costs. One of the main hubs of the intermodal system is the port because of the modal change involved. It is thus necessary to have a supply model that allows, in the planning phase, cost and performance of the specific hub in the transport system to be estimated.