Simulation Modeling Approach to Maritime Container Terminals: A State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract An overview of relevant literature is conducted on research focusing on the applicability of simulation modeling approach in the solution of port container terminals' decision problems. The container terminals' decision problems have been dominantly addressed by Operational Research discipline based on its two main approaches math modeling and simulation. Extensive container terminals' research has been addressed by using Discrete -Event Simulation, but the literature review suggests that Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation is now emerging as a more suitable approach for studying operations container terminals, but this still needs to be verified by more deployed systems. A general conclusion from our study is that is necessary to increment the use of Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation tools in the container terminals modeling to provide more adequacies in the modeling and simulation activity.