CRITICAL FACTORS AFFECTING EFFICIENT YARD PLANNING IN A SEAPORT CONTAINER TERMINAL

Yapa Mahinda Bandara; Chamara Perera

doi:10.46754/jml.2025.08.003

Authors

Yapa Mahinda Bandara Edinburgh Napier University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8768-9773
Chamara Perera University of Moratuwa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46754/jml.2025.08.003

Keywords:

Yard planning, Critical Factors, Container Terminal, Analytic Hierarchical Process, Weight Rated and Ranking Method, Port of Colombo

Abstract

Operations at a container yard within a port terminal represent one of the most complex aspects of terminal operations, as both inbound and outbound container flows must be handled simultaneously. Yard planning involves allocating appropriate storage locations for these containers in order to integrate all activities within the terminal area into a seamless operation. Consequently, yard planning directly influences port efficiency by addressing the storage allocation of inbound containers, the utilisation of yard equipment, and the retrieval sequence of outbound containers. Several factors determine the efficiency of the yard planning process. The main objective of this paper is to explore and identify the factors affecting yard planning and its efficiency from the perspective of port terminal executives. A questionnaire survey was conducted with the participation of 30 port industry professionals representing the three port terminals operating at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The study employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to identify the critical factors influencing yard planning efficiency and to determine the relative weight of each factor. The paper further offers managerial and technical implications for improving yard planning in port terminal management.

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