Abstract: The present invention is a computational system to generate feasible marine transportation schedules given a proposed bulk material supply chain. The decision support tool will fulfill the objectives and scope defined above. The technology employed will require (a) the use of mathematical programming modeling techniques (mixed integer linear programming) to mathematically formulate the business problem, and (b) advanced proprietary solution methods to produce solutions satisfying all constraints of the mathematical model while optimizing an objective function. The decision support tool has the following capabilities: Read input data, Generate feasible bulk material ship Schedule, Evaluate bulk material ship Schedule with User-defined Objective Function, Allow Case comparison, Graphical user interface (GUI) for specifying input data and displaying results.

Abstract: A tool to assist decision-making in the logistics of bulk product transportation. For example, the tool may be used to solve a problem involving the transportation and the inventory management of crude oil, in which the transportation of crude oil between supply ports and discharge ports are performed by a fleet of ships. The tool is capable of handling a typical petroleum product transportation problem, which can be quite complex. The tool uses advanced modeling and optimization technology to find a solution (either optimal or near optimal) for the allocation of bulk products, vehicle routing, vehicle scheduling, and/or bulk product blending operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimal transporting of cargo is provided. The method includes optimizing a plurality of transportation decisions and mechanically transporting cargo through movement of a plurality of vehicles in accordance with a set of optimized transportation decisions. The decisions include transportation routes and schedules for the transportation vehicles, allocation of cargo to be transported to one or more demand locations by the transportation vehicles, nomination of cargo pickup by the transportation vehicles from the one or more supply locations, the use of specialized transportation locations, and vehicle assignments for each of the transportation vehicles. The set of decisions is optimized by collecting data relating to the various transportation decisions, using the data collected as part of a mixed integer linear programming model, and obtaining a solution to the model to arrive at a set of optimized transportation decisions.

Abstract: A computer application loaded on a computer readable medium, a computer apparatus comprising the same, and process employing the same, is described herein. The computer application, when executed, causes a computer to optimize, for maximum net profit margin, the product allocation, transportation routing, transportation vehicle/route scheduling and, optionally, blending, of bulk products that are produced by and loaded from supply locations and delivered to and consumed by demand locations, using a heterogeneous fleet of transportation vehicles over a pre-defined period of time.

Abstract: The present invention is a computational system to generate feasible marine transportation schedules given a proposed bulk material supply chain. The decision support tool will fulfill the objectives and scope defined above. The technology employed will require (a) the use of mathematical programming modeling techniques (mixed integer linear programming) to mathematically formulate the business problem, and (b) advanced proprietary solution methods to produce solutions satisfying all constraints of the mathematical model while optimizing an objective function. The decision support tool has the following capabilities: Read input data, Generate feasible bulk material ship Schedule, Evaluate bulk material ship Schedule with User-defined Objective Function, Allow Case comparison, Graphical user interface (GUI) for specifying input data and displaying results.

Abstract: A computer application loaded on a computer readable medium, a computer apparatus comprising the same, and process employing the same, is described herein. The computer application, when executed, causes a computer to optimize, for maximum net profit margin, the product allocation, transportation routing, transportation vehicle/route scheduling and, optionally, blending, of bulk products that are produced by and loaded from supply locations and delivered to and consumed by demand locations, using a heterogeneous fleet of transportation vehicles over a pre-defined period of time.