Container terminal

For other uses, see Terminal (disambiguation).

Container stacks at Keppel Container Terminal in Singapore

A container terminal is a facility where cargo containers are transshipped between different transport vehicles, for onward transportation. The transshipment may be between container ships and land vehicles, for example trains or trucks, in which case the terminal is described as a maritime container terminal. Alternatively the transshipment may be between land vehicles, typically between train and truck, in which case the terminal is described as an inland container terminal.

Maritime container terminals tend to be part of a larger port, and the biggest maritime container terminals can be found situated around major harbours. Inland container terminals tend to be located in or near major cities, with good rail connections to maritime container terminals.

Both maritime and inland container terminals usually provide storage facilities for both loaded and empty containers. Loaded containers are stored for relatively short periods, whilst waiting for onward transportation, whilst unloaded containers may be stored for longer periods awaiting their next use. Containers are normally stacked for storage, and the resulting stores are known as container stacks.

In recent years methodological advances regarding container terminal operations have considerably improved. For a detailed description and a comprehensive list of references see, e.g., the operations research literature.^[1][2]

See also

Pier T Container Terminal in Long Beach, California with intermodal rail in the foreground and gantry cranes behind that

• Cargo airline
• Containerization
• Dock (maritime)
• List of container terminals
• Pick and pack
• Shipping list
• Warehouse

References

1. ^ Dirk Steenken; Stefan Voß and Robert Stahlbock (1 January 2004). "Container terminal operation and operations research - a classification and literature review". OR Spectrum (Berlin / Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag) 26 (1): 3–49. doi:10.1007/s00291-003-0157-z. http://www.springerlink.com/content/4pggmhn1tq0bfpwx. Retrieved 2010-09-07. 
2. ^ Robert Stahlbock; Stefan Voß (1 January 2007). "Operations research at container terminals: a literature update". OR Spectrum (Spring-Verlag) 30 (1): 1–52. doi:10.1007/s00291-007-0100-9. http://www.springerlink.com/content/018j57r4364148m0. Retrieved 2010-09-07. 

External links