Publications

Lima, D.B.V., Santos, T.A. and Guedes Soares, C. , “Technical feasibility study of iron ore export using Douro River”, Maritime Technology and Engineering, Guedes Soares, C. & Santos T.A. (Eds.), Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK, pp. 99-108

For the export of iron ore from Moncorvo mines, near the Douro River, in Northern Portugal, one technical solution has been analysed which relies on the fluvial transportation using Douro River and maritime transportation to the port of Aveiro . The technical feasibility of the fluvial-maritime transport mode has been studied, first through the dimensioning of the fleet necessary for the transport of 8 million tons of iron ore per year using basic queuing theory principles. Douro river transport fleet and dry bulk terminal dimensioning have been carried out separately. Then a coupled simulation model including the dry bulk terminals and Douro river transport fleet has been developed to verify the initial dimensioning taking advantage of variables manipulation, animation of entities and stochastic input parameters for the operation and arrival times. Fleet and terminal dimensioning is then updated and conclusions of the study are drawn regarding the technical feasibility of using river Douro to export the required volume of iron ore.

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