Port Economics, Management and A comprehensive analysis of the port

industry
Policy

CONTENTS ‣ III. PORT

The Configuration of Container TERMINALS ‣ Chapter 3.4 –
Container Terminal Design and
Yards Equipment ‣ The Configuration
of Container Yards

The Configuration of Container Yards

There are several methods to store and stack containers in a container
yard, which is in its simplest form a flat paved surface. There are two
fundamental models around which container yards are designed and
operated:

Linear layouts account for the simplest and least capital-intensive

yard operations. At start, containers can be stored on chassis that can
be parked in parallel (L1) for space maximization or diagonally (L2) to
favor quick drop-off and retrieval (all called fishbone configuration).
This organization is common for intermodal rail terminals. Straddle
carrier configurations (L3) store containers one or two in height along
rows over which straddle carriers drive. This is common for average Theo Notteboom, Athanasios
density yards that can store around 700 TEU per hectare. Reach Pallis and Jean-Paul Rodrigue
stackers can be used to stack full containers in piles up to 3 in height (2022) Port Economics,
(L4), which is mainly used in intermodal terminals. The majority of Management and Policy, New

container ports have empty stacks (L5) with higher stacks (about 5 York: Routledge, 690 pages /
218 illustrations. ISBN
containers) that are managed by reach stackers.
9780367331559.
Block layouts are more capital-intensive as they rely on gantry
cranes to manage stacks. A group of stacked containers serviced by a
crane is called a block. Rubber-tired gantry cranes allow for higher
stacking density in the range of 1,000 TEU per hectare where blocks doi.org/10.4324/978042931818
can be sideloaded (B1; faster individual container access time but 4
lower stacking density) or front-loaded (B2; slower individual
container access time but higher stacking density). Wide-span gantry Follow @pemp2021

cranes operating on fixed rails allow for the highest stacking density,
 in the range of 2,000 TEU per hectare, and be sideloaded (B3) or
front-loaded (B4). Automated container yards usually rely on front- CONTENTS
loading gantries.
I. PORTS & MARITIME
SHIPPING
II. CONTEMPORARY PORTS
III. PORT TERMINALS
IV. PORT GOVERNANCE
V. PORT COMPETITION
VI. PORT PERFORMANCE
VII. PORT POLICIES &
DEVELOPMENT
VIII. PORT MARKETS
IX. CASE STUDIES

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Ports (chapter update)
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Port Hinterlands,
Regionalization and Corridors
(chapter update)
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