3D Container Loading

3D Container Loading 1

3D Container Loading 2
Abstract
This dissertation examines three dimensions (3D) container loading problem with the
primary objective of maximizing the utilization of 3D container space. Based on the traits of
mathematical loading approaches, this dissertation develops an effective solution to 3D
container loading problem which will ensure the use of 3D container entirely, ensure the
stability of the vessels, maximum loading and timely delivery of the order. Both primary and
secondary data collection approaches were utilized in generating ideas, which were then used
to formulate this solution. Strongly and weakly different loading information was also used
to recommend the most suitable formula. Findings show that this approach will attain a
maximum solution to the problem to slightly above the current 70.64% performance of
procedures captured in the literature review.

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Contents
I. Abstract....................................................................................................................................2
1. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION......................................................................................4
1.1. Introduction of Container Loading.......................................................................................4
1.2. Container Terminal...............................................................................................................5
1.3. The History of 3D Containers...............................................................................................5
1.4. The Container Loading Problem..........................................................................................6
1.5. Statement of the Problem....................................................................................................10
2. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................12
2.1. 3D Containers Loading Approaches...................................................................................12
2.2. Summary of Literature Review..........................................................................................21
3. CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY...............................................................................23
4. CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS..............................................................................................24
5. CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION..........................................................................................24
6. CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................24
References......................................................................................................................................25

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1. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
The problem of three Dimensions container loading has existed for over five decades.
However, modern approaches have failed to offer a permanent solution to the issues.
Surprisingly, the current approaches to mitigation of 3D container problems are advancements of
the previously existing methods (de Azevedo et al., 2012). Also, it is quite absurd to note that
some suitable approaches and opportunities have never been utilized, yet can provide an
appropriate solution to this issue. This description encloses the theme of this Dissertation. Based
on this phenomenon, this dissertation presents an in-depth analysis of the state-of-art in the field
of 3D container loading. The problem of packing three dimension containers is an issue that has
been generated naturally from the ancient containers, namely the one dimension and two
dimension containers (de Azevedo et al., 2012). This issue is mostly associated with the package
of products that can easily fit in tanks or trucks and the products that are first packed on the
pallets.
1.1. Introduction of Container Loading
Transportation at sea all starts with container loading. Container loading is broadly used
to mean arranging or packing goods of various sizes and design in a container such that each
space within the container is counted for both for economic gain and efficient transportation.
Container loading is done based on some specific requirements. The primary person in the
container loading process is the shipper. The shipper is responsible for efficient filling of the
container and does this by selecting the right container. The shipper must check and record the
vessel chosen to ensure that the demands of the order are entirely met. He also examines the
status of the tank to check if there is any leakage, especially around the doors. In this regards, the
entries are efficiently reviewed before loading to avoid wastage of time. Damaged areas and

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repairs are also tested to ensure that the container is in good shape. After selecting the right
container and testing it to ensure that it is the right container for the job, stuffing is then done.
This marks the beginning of the cargo loading process. This process is crucial for the entire
transportation process, and the shipper must ensure that the load is spread evenly within the
container (Tran-Dang, Krommenacker, and Charpentier, 2017). Uneven loading can cause
damage to the cargo. In this regards, all the spaces within the container, ranging from one wall to
the nest, must be utilized entirely. Parking the container tightly is crucial in keeping the cargo
safe by limiting movements that might lead to damages.
1.2. Container Terminal
The use of the container in transporting goods for trading and transportation services has
become crucial in the present days than before. This importance is expected to increase shortly
and beyond due to the rapid growth and development of trade across the world. Based on initial
studies, the number of containers that are shipped internationally is expected to grow to over 500
million by 2022. The increase in container use in the international business was influenced by the
introduction of large vessels, which require not only more but deeper wafts for the temporary
storage of the containers. Also, the use of container gained more essence following the
introduction of three dimension containers, which are advancements from the 1D and 2D bottles.
1.3. The History of 3D Containers
Containers have been taken for granted in the present society because they are common
and can be seen in every port or even along the roads being transported by trucks to various
destinations. However, it is essential to note that containers have come a long way to the
presently used 3Ds. The history of shipping containers is dated back beyond the pre-shipping
period when the man moved across seas taking food and raw materials barely inside a boat.

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However, boats were also few and could be hardly present in goods collection points. In this
regards, products were collected in a port warehouse as the shipper waits for a boat to come. In
those days, goods were loaded into the vessel typically through the use of crates, bales, and
sacks. This ancient mechanism was referred to as break bulk cargo as one ship would carry about
200,000 loads. This situation depicted the utmost level of lack of standardization as it took a lot
of time for products to be transported from the ships to a cargo. This inefficiency induced the
urge to standardize the shipping process. As a result, McLean created the first type of containers
at around 1995. However, the journey remained procedural. For instance, he first introduced one
dimension containers, which the latter advanced having been convinced by his ideas. Later on,
he developed the 2D vessels to 3D, which are widely used today for shipping activities, and are
present at virtually every sea and airports. However, his development did not mean that the
advancement of the containers stopped. Beyond 1956 to date, containers have been standardized
and also expanded considerably to make the shipping process more efficient.
1.4. The Container Loading Problem
The emergence of 3D containers enhances the shipping process. However, it does not mean that
it guaranteed success because, in some instances, the shipping process turns up to be a massacre
or unsatisfactory. This notion implies that it takes a specialist to load a container for safe and
secure shipment efficiently. There are fundamental problems that must be handled efficiently for
the shipping process to be a success (de Azevedo et al., 2012). This concept forms the base of
this Dissertation.
3D container loading problems primarily trigger issues about shipment planning and
loading of the order in a suitable position to ensure specific constraints. According to Tran-Dang,
Krommenacker, and Charpentier (2017), this Dissertation stretches significantly to engineering

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background and the present day management of containers along the shipment line, which is
marked by the two main terminals. Generally, the issue of container loading in Nondeterministic
Polynomial (ND) complex issue targeting at creating a mathematical approach and establishing
efficient formula based on the various shipping environments. The three dimension container
loading problem is grouped into 14 categories based on cargoes. However, only two of the 14
types formed the basis of this Dissertation since they are the most general and capture virtually
all concepts of the problem (de Azevedo et al., 2012). The relatively complex NP problem has
been solved partially over the past years through the use of mathematical approaches captured in
existing scholarly publications. These approaches are enclosed under the broad umbrella of
intelligent optimized method, which includes the tabu, simulated annealing, and genetic
calculation
The above approaches are typically used to solve practical container loading issues.
These models are also grouped into two main categories, namely improved heuristic and
placements heuristic. The latter is sometimes referred to as the basis heuristic, which entails
searching for the solutions and applying them typically based on the loading rules. The basic
heuristic is commonly used to solve the container packing issue. Although this approach is not
fully efficient as captured on some early studies, it can offer a reliable solution to 3D container
loading problem (Tran-Dang, Krommenacker, and Charpentier, 2017). On the other hand, just as
the name suggests, an improved heuristic approach is a hybrid formula formed by combining the
basic historic model with different search methods from the neighborhood.
Robinson and George proposed a representation of theheuristic placement through their
first introduction of the concept of layers in the trading field. Based on their method, 14
heuristics were created by Marriott and Bischoff by mixing three approaches and six following

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rules that initially existed. After that, Nee and Loh surveyed a weakly different theistic problem
by taking and using the charge density as an objective function. They recommended building a
horizontal layer during loading of the container then loading from the bottom going upwards.
They also designed 15 test data sets, which were commonly used large form formula as standard
data sets. Progressively, Ngoi et al. recommended that the most suitable way of loading the
container is horizontally and rotationally. By abandoning the layers concept, they formulated a
unique approach of representation of matrix to simplify the loading steps. Then came Radcliff
and Bischoff, who proposed a heuristic approach with several destinations contracts based on the
place where the cargo was ordered and how they arrived. Instead of building layers as had been
proposed earlier, this technique makes columns to ease loading of similar cargoes in a particular
space.
Matric spacing, similar to Ngoi et al.’s was also used in their approach. A tabu search
method was proposed by Gehring and Bortfeldt to solve the 3D container loading since they
believed that it ensures maximum stability of the containers (Tran-Dang, Krommenacker, and
Charpentier, 2017). Flowing continuous advancements, they created two composite approaches
for loading the containers. They include a block composing os similar cargoes and another block
containing two separate shipments. This plan was later advanced by Wu and Chien to come up
with a better loading plan in the same approach that was adopted earlier by Robinson and George
(Tran-Dang, Krommenacker, and Charpentier, 2017). However, none of these approaches
seemed useful because even after being applied for numerous years, loading issues still exist in
the shipping process.
This Dissertation proposes a novel adaptive generic calculation approach that integrates
two-stage actual-number encoding technique and a dynamic space division approach to improve