Alternative mixed-integer linear programming models of a maritime inventory routing problem

• Continuous time models and reformulations for maritime inventory routing with single docks.
• An extended model based on event points is presented to handle parallel docks.
• A discrete time model based on a single commodity fixed-charge network flow problem is described.
• The computational performance of the models is compared on multiple instances of six problems.

A single product maritime inventory routing problem is addressed in this paper by exploring the use of continuous and discrete time models. We first present a continuous time model based on time slots for single docks, which is enhanced by reformulating the time assignment constraints. Next, we present a model based on event points to handle parallel docks. A discrete time is also presented based on a single commodity fixed-charge network flow problem (FCNF). All the models are solved for multiple randomly generated instances of different problems to compare their computational efficiency, and to illustrate the solutions obtained.