Evaluation of alternative scenarios of labour flexibility for dockworkers in maritime container terminals

In the competitive environment of Container Terminals (CTs), it is essential to reduce unproductive costs and to offer efficient services to shipping companies. One of the most important factors for CT efficiency is to plan workforce optimally. However, in some CTs, strict work regulations can avoid an optimal use of the available resources leading to longer operation times and to additional related costs. This study analyses labour regulations in Italian CTs and evaluates the effects of a greater labour flexibility at the operational level by hypothesising an increase of the labour flexibility allowed within the pool of internal dockworkers. The scenario representing the current work organisation in Italian CTs is compared to five new scenarios constructed by increasing the share of daily working flexibility and introducing a new type of labour flexibility, the so-called mini-flexibility. The use of a state-of-the-art Integer Linear Programming Model for the daily assignment of human resources in CTs allows to simulate the quantitative effects of each scenario in terms of operating costs and workers undermanning. Quantitative results support the idea that an increased labour flexibility in CT activities can actually lead to a significant reduction of the operating costs and to a greater efficiency of the CT.