Evaluation of Fleeting Operations in Ports

This research develops a fleeting management evaluation model and tests it on the St. Louis Bi-State Metropolitan Port. A technique employing Markovian Decision Theory is utilized to examine site and operational alternatives to optimally provide through tow and dock delivery fleeting while minimizing harbor congestion over a 20 year planning horizon. Commodity flow forecasts are utilized, various harbor development scenarios are formulated and operational and environmental impacts are analyzed. The evaluation is undertaken from several viewpoints: development sensitive, environmentally sensitive, capital cost and regulatory sensitive, and compromise. Forms of fleeter co-operation and introduction of LASH barge technology is investigated. Conclusions and need for further research is presented. The software is available, and the model and evaluation technique can be generalized to any inland river or deep water port in the nation. (Author)