Container terminal plays an important role to serve container vessel¡¦s loading and discharging in seaport. Owing to high sunk cost and resource limited in operating ( e.g. rental, quay and yard cranes, berth window, yard and so on ), container terminals are mostly run by government or conglomerate of joint carriers . Practically, there are many container terminal operation types in the world. Among them, Kaohsiung Harbor Authority ( KHB ) leases out all terminals to several vessel carriers and the terminal lessee serves hers own vessels. In such operation type, Kaohsiung port terminal industries are faced with resource limited and berth window shortage problems. Above all, under the prevailing of global alliance tendency and ports serious competition, the terminal lessees will have the pressures of lack in resource sharing advantage and cost increasing. In such situation, the terminal performance and efficiency will be deteriorated in the long run. Thus, how to seek a better way, even changing the operation type, to enhance Kaohsiung port competitive ability is an imminent problem. Therefore, in order to maintain the Kaohsiung port¡¦s competitive advantage in international seaports, this thesis aims to discuss and evaluate the possibility of joint-venture type in Kaohsiung container terminal. We take Los Angeles¡¦s joint-venture case, which is a success cooperation, as an emulating example. And we act the expert investigation by AHP analysis to process this study. Finally, we expect this conclusion and suggestions can provide an opportunity to relating organizations for further study enabling them to come up with a suitable operation type in Kaohsiung harbor.

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

International container shipping is a complex system of interlocked stakeholders. Obtaining reliable data can be difficult and the data for specific routes and container terminals change over time. Intermodal transportation has increased in importance over the years. A relational database model was developed as a tool for stakeholders interested in analyzing specific paths. The database uses data on transportation time, variance of transportation time, transportation cost and green house gas emissions. The user can specify their own set of locations, movements, containers, items and transportation modes. The total logistics cost of a specific importing strategy can be calculated for any path defined by the user. A Floyd-Warshall algorithm was implemented to allow for the shortest path between locations to be determined, based on the preferences of the user for either cost, time or CO2 emissions. In order to illustrate the capabilities of our model and because of our interest in the port of Halifax, we created a dataset from the distances between important locations within the international container shipping system. Using this dataset, some example calculations indicate that the port of Halifax and the port of Montreal could consider cooperating to form a hub-and-spoke relationship for European imports. In another example, the port of Halifax provides the fastest route for imports using the Suez Canal intending to reach Toronto but the cheapest total logistics cost route involves using the port of NY/NJ. By using both the total logistics cost algorithms and the shortest path algorithms, the examples illustrate how stakeholders in the container transportation industry can analyze various routes, terminals and make informed decisions.

This thesis includes an introduction to my bonsai container design along with a history of bonsai, discussion of the philosophies of key bonsai masters, the details of two bonsai containers based on Japanese courtyard culture and Japanese architectural philosophy. It also documents the design process of all 1:1 scale Bonsai containers and the exhibition space, which includes bonsai planted in each container on the presentation day.

This thesis includes an introduction to my bonsai container design along with a history of bonsai, discussion of the philosophies of key bonsai masters, the details of two bonsai containers based on Japanese courtyard culture and Japanese architectural philosophy. It also documents the design process of all 1:1 scale Bonsai containers and the exhibition space, which includes bonsai planted in each container on the presentation day.

This thesis includes an introduction to my bonsai container design along with a history of bonsai, discussion of the philosophies of key bonsai masters, the details of two bonsai containers based on Japanese courtyard culture and Japanese architectural philosophy. It also documents the design process of all 1:1 scale Bonsai containers and the exhibition space, which includes bonsai planted in each container on the presentation day.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-142) Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-142) Also available online.