Stability Constrained Optimal Vessel Loading

Abstract

We examine the revenue maximizing loading for the single voyage of a cargo vessel where metacentric stability is taken into account. We formulate the problem as a maximization of a linear function with two linear and one quadratic constraint. The quadratic form in the constraint can be definite if heavier loads are to be placed low, but not otherwise. We consider a vessel similar to a 3500 TEU container carrier and perform several calculations using a Generalized Reduced Gradient commercial solver.