Offshore platform for containerized cargo redistribution: a new concept and simulation-based performance study

International attentions on offshore platform for containerized cargo redistribution (OPCCR), an open-water platform for ship-to-ship cargo transfer, have been growing due to the increasing demand for dangerous cargo handling and the increasing difficulties of constructing special terminals. However, the coupling of discharging and loading operations within limited space and tight schedule makes it a great challenge to achieve a high operation performance. In this paper, a series of discrete event simulation models have been developed to test the performance of the two alternative layout designs. The efficiency of the platform, the turn-around time of ships, and the utilization of the equipment are selected as the three major key performance indicators (KPIs) and are compared between different designs and configurations. Based on the results, the better design is suggested. The findings of this work could be useful references for the designers and end-users of the OPCCR during both designing and operation processes.This article is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled ‘Floating Dangerous Liquid Bulk Cargo Redistribution System: A New Concept and Simulation-based Performance Study’ presented at IAME 2019 conference, Athens, Greece, 25–28 June 2019.