Integrated laycan and berth allocation problem with ship stability and conveyor routing constraints in bulk ports

•New model for integrated planning problem of tidal export dry bulk ports.•Problem consists of laycan and berth allocation with conveyor routing constraints.•Ship stability and preventive maintenance activities are considered.•Proposed method effectively provides solutions for real case studies. In this paper, we study the integrated Laycan and Berth Allocation Problem (LBAP) in the context of bulk ports, which considers two problems in an integrated way: the tactical Laycan Allocation Problem and the dynamic hybrid case of the operational Berth Allocation Problem. To make the LBAP closer to reality, we consider tidal bulk ports with conveyor routing constraints between storage hangars and berthing positions, preventive maintenance activities, multiple quays with different water depths and fixed heterogeneous bulk-handling cranes, navigation channel restrictions, vessels with multiple cargo types, charter party clauses, non-working periods, and ship stability considerations during loading operations. The proposed integer programming model aims to define an efficient schedule for berthing chartered vessels and new vessels to charter. The model is formulated with predicates that guarantee maximum flexibility in the implementation and greatly improve the computational performance. Finally, the model is tested and validated through a set of relevant case studies inspired by the operations of OCP Group at the bulk port of Jorf Lasfar in Morocco in very reasonable computational time using commercial Software.