Proposal for a flexible discrete event simulation model for assessing the daily operation decisions in a Ro–Ro terminal

•Description of process and operation decisions of a Ro–Ro terminal.•Definition of a cost function to assess the daily operation decisions.•Presentation of a flexible DES model to assess the daily operation decisions.•Provision of detailed operation data of a real case study.

Roll-on/roll-off (Ro–Ro) terminals are important logistic hubs dedicated to vessels and transporters and their loading, unloading and temporary storage. This study aims at assessing the impact of managers’ decisions on planning and operational efficiency with a particular focus on vehicle handling. To this end, the terminal operations are described, the operation decisions are analyzed and the costs involved in terminal processes are formalized. The high complexity of the managerial problem, mostly caused by the stochastic nature of the related variables, is resolved with a discrete event simulation model (developed in Arena Rockwell). It supports day-by-day terminal managers’ decisions, enabling the evaluation of the economic impact of different operational alternatives on logistic costs and pollutant emissions. The verification and validation of the model were carried out in a real environment. Finally, an illustrative example of the tool usage is presented in a case study.