Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science Honours

Faculty

Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering

First Supervisor

James Cross

Abstract

In order to improve its shipping operations a major salt exporter needs to reduce costs, increase market share and improve customer service. This thesis examines the use of linear (LP) and nonlinear programming (NLP) as a means of solving a nonlinear transhipment problem associated with the export of salt. Tho feasibility of using a LP or NLP approach is explored, taking into consideration the computational time and useability of the models. To meet the demands of their customers the company currently uses heuristic methods to allocate varying size ships to different routes. To remain competitive the shipping options that are considered include the optimisation of vessel chartering for effective scheduling to customers, selection of vessel type, stockpiling and transhipment. This thesis examines the vessel Selection and transhipment options and provides for improvements. The NLP approach developed in this thesis is implemented under the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS). It is expected the results will provide improvements to shipping methods and reduction of costs in salt exportation and will have applications to shipping problems in other industries.

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