Use of AIS Data to Characterize Vessel Mix in Houston Port Operations for Simulation

We present methods and results for automatic identification system (AIS) vessel tracking data analysis to support port operations and simulation efforts in the Houston port region. While AIS data has been widely used to measure port performance, we specifically study the validity of assuming a Poisson arrival process for the Houston anchorage and quantify observed anchorage waiting behavior for container, non- container cargo, and tanker vessels from 2019–2023. Statistical testing and graphical analysis are used to examine the interarrival times. We contend that the Poisson assumption is likely valid for container and non-container cargo vessel types, but less clear for tanker vessels. The queue analysis shows that the Houston anchorage is dominated by tanker vessels, of which a majority experience waiting, and that deviations in container vessel queue size and duration were observed in late 2021 and 2022, corresponding to the global demand surge for container cargo. These findings directly support simulation studies for the Port of Houston and provide empirical evidence of cargo vessel arrival and waiting behaviors in the Houston anchorage.

This have been presented in the following conferences:
1) TRB 104th Annual Meeting 2023, Washington, D.C., USA. (Lecturn session)