A multi-scenario model for empty container repositioning with uncertain demand

This paper investigates the maritime repositioning of empty containers when their demand is uncertain. It involves moving empty containers from import‐dominant ports to export‐dominant ports in anticipation of future demands. In order to consider demand uncertainty, the problem is addressed by a stochastic programming approach, in which different scenarios are included in a multi‐scenario optimisation model and explicitly linked by non‐anticipativity conditions. Numerical experiments are carried out to show which benefits are obtained by multi‐scenario solutions with respect to their deterministic counterparts, which consider only one point forecast for each uncertain parameter.