A maritime container repositioning yield-based optimization model with uncertain upsurge demand

•A shipment yield network driven-based container repositioning optimization model is developed.•A constrained linear-programming optimization system is developed for container supply plan.•A supply plan with repositioning, empty pickup and return, leasing, new purchased and disposal.•A model for uncertain upsurge demand by the optimization repositioning plan and change of destination.•Industrial cases of designated network, ports, shipments, and imbalance locations are applied.•A model assists planners for better decisions on supply plan and lowers repositioning costs.

The role of container repositioning has become more important under the severe cargo shipping environment, affected by world trade growth, trade imbalance, slow steaming strategy and high container manufacturing cost. Low cost, better routing, and supplying equipment to higher yield cargo become the top criteria. A yield-based container repositioning framework is developed, followed by a constrained linear programming optimizing the container repositioning from surplus to deficit locations. The model incorporated change of destinations of empty containers and adjustment factors handling upsurge demand. The model is applied to optimize daily container repositioning operations with a better route, costs and equipment supply.