Efficient operations at marine terminals are crucial for the oil and gas industry, where delays can lead to significant financial losses. A leading oil and gas company faced challenges at one of its marine terminals, where high traffic and various operational issues resulted in frequent delays and reduced shipping capacity. This case study explores developing and implementing a Marine Terminal Optimization Dashboard, which successfully addressed these challenges and improved terminal efficiency.
Challenges
The terminal experienced substantial traffic, with numerous tanks, ships, and barges moving in and out. Key challenges included:
- Ship Waiting Time: Frequent delays led to increased ship waiting times.
- Reduced Shipping Capacity: Delays resulted in fewer oil barrels being shipped daily.
- Operational Inefficiencies: Various factors contributed to delays, including additional pumping time, terminal issues, and problems with specific shipping companies.
Solutions
To tackle these issues, the company developed a Marine Terminal Optimization Dashboard. The solution involved the following steps:
- Data Collection:
- Collected terminal logs to track ship movements and schedules.
- Integrated data from the Terminal Management System to analyze ship schedules and operations.
- Dashboard Development:
- Built a comprehensive dashboard to visualize ship movements and schedules in real time.
- Analyzed trends over time to identify patterns and causes of delays.
- Cause Analysis:
- Diagnosed causes of delays by examining data trends, including:
- Additional pumping time
- Terminal issues
- Shipping company-specific problems (e.g., certain companies consistently associated with delays)
- Corrective Actions:
- Implemented corrective actions based on the identified causes, such as optimizing pumping schedules, addressing terminal issues, and negotiating with shipping companies to improve punctuality.
Technology Stack
- Data Integration Tools: Collecting and integrating data from terminal logs and management systems.
- Visualization Software: To create the Marine Terminal Optimization Dashboard and provide real-time insights.
- Analytical Tools: Analytical tools analyze trends and diagnose causes of delays.
Outcome
The implementation of the Marine Terminal Optimization Dashboard led to significant improvements:
- Reduced Ship Waiting Time:
Identified and addressed the root causes of delays, reducing ship waiting times. - Increased Shipping Capacity:
- The terminal could ship an extra 300,000 barrels of oil daily by accommodating one additional ship per day.
- Assuming the cost of crude oil is $80 per barrel, this resulted in an additional profit of $24 million daily.
- Operational Efficiency:
The dashboard provided real-time insights that allowed the terminal operations team to make data-driven decisions and improve overall efficiency. - Strategic Negotiations:
By identifying shipping companies that were consistently associated with delays, the company could negotiate better terms and improve service levels.
Conclusion
The Marine Terminal Optimization Dashboard was a pivotal tool in transforming the efficiency of terminal operations. By leveraging real-time data and advanced analytics, the company identified and addressed the root causes of delays, resulting in significant operational improvements and financial gains. This case study demonstrates the critical role of data-driven solutions in optimizing marine terminal operations and maximizing throughput in the oil and gas industry.