Logistics-based fleet design for complex transportation scenarios

Description

A new integrated method for the preliminary design of a fleet of ships for a new trade is presented. Data from two apparently separate types of analysis, based on logistics and naval architecture, are merged within an integrated logistics-fleet design framework. The procedure carries out a preliminary screening of the design space based on logistics criteria. Then, possible fleet configurations and ship designs are investigated, providing information to shipyards and ship owners for an effective selection of optimal solutions. Interactions between logistics evaluations and classic ship design assessments are highlighted. Results from a realistic test case concerning compressed natural gas transportation are presented and discussed.

Additional details