OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR FERRY FLEET MANAGEMENT

This paper develops an optimization model for the operation of waterborne passenger transport system that considers both user's and operator's objectives. Transit service with minimum waiting time is considered as the user's objective whereas operators are concerned with efficient operations to maximize profit. A mixed-integer linear programming model is formulated. The optimized variables, which could be decided sequentially, are ferry fleet size, traversed route and service schedule. A numerical example solved by CPLEX-6.0-MIP is provided to demonstrate the scenario of fleet operations on two ferry routes in Hong Kong (Central-Mui Wo and Central-Peng Chau) during peak period, with demand distributions that realistically represent the actual situation.