IMOS - Schedule Optimizer

This is an additional solution and requires a separate license.

(Optimizing no longer supported - this article needs to be amended by Educational services)

The Veson IMOS Platform (IMOS) Schedule Optimizer is a proprietary algorithm, built on top of the Scheduling workspace, designed to optimize a voyage schedule for either of the following two variables:

Percent of laycans met for cargoes in the book
TCE of the voyage scenario

The optimizer can be used either from the Scheduling workspace, ideal for a voyage-centric workflow, or from the Cargo Book workspace, ideal for a cargo-centric workflow.

The Schedule Optimizer is beneficial for Schedulers, Freight Traders, Charterers, Operators, and Managers at organizations that manage high volumes of often similar voyages.

Workflow

To learn how to use the Schedule Optimizer, see Optimizing Your Schedule.

IMOS - Optimizing Your Schedule

How Optimization Works

In addition to the parameters you enter on the Programs panel, scheduling optimization takes into account:

Cargo Laycan From/To (in GMT), Option %/Type, Min Qty, weight, volume, and load/discharge duration.
- Cargoes are assigned to vessels that can meet the start of laycan as highest priority. If no vessel can meet the start of laycan, then the Schedule Optimizer looks for a vessel that can meet the laycan window. A vessel is scheduled to arrive at its load port as soon as possible before the laycan.
- Multiple cargoes are only scheduled to the same voyage if their laycans overlap.
- If no unassigned vessel can perform 100% of the CP Qty, the Schedule Optimizer looks for vessels that can perform a quantity within the optional percentage.
Vessel open positions, Speed Laden, Speed Ballast, and Max Lift.
- For open positions, standard and alias ports are supported. When the open port for a vessel is TBN or a custom port, it is excluded from the optimization scenario.
The cost of traveling between ports, based on the latest sea lanes and nautical charts in Distances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can the Schedule Optimizer do? What can’t it do?

The Schedule Optimizer can ingest various data points from a client’s Open Positions and Cargo Book, and use this data to determine the most optimal schedule for the vessels and cargoes, with the goal of either maximizing laycans met or total TCE of the scenario.

When performing these calculations, the Schedule Optimizer takes the following data points into account:

For Open Positions:	For Cargo Book:
Vessel open basis date Vessel size/DW Vessel Restrictions Draft	CP Qty and Optionality Cargo Type Load and Discharge Port(s) Laycan Window

The Schedule Optimizer cannot yet optimize for SPOT or Market Vessels, as the algorithm requires operational information to determine vessel availability.

Can I Optimize for KPI’s beyond Laycans and TCE?

Out of the box, the Schedule Optimizer is focused on these two targets. However, a client can plug in their own algorithm for optimization if they so choose. We have included the two KPIs of laycans and TCE as we see these as foundational points for optimization; we are looking to expand to additional targets as the product matures.

Can I run scenarios to Optimize without committing anything operationally?

Yes. This use case is core to the functionality. Nothing is committed through to operations until the Scheduler makes the final decision and confirms a suggested Estimate. Additionally, the Schedule Optimizer allows the scheduler to keep or discard suggested Estimates through to subsequent runs.

What about co-loading cargos?

The optimizer can co-load cargoes, but there are two important behaviors to understand:

If a vessel has already loaded a cargo that is assigned to a shipment, it won't load cargoes that aren't in that shipment until it has finished the shipment. The vessel also won't start working on a shipment if it already has other cargoes loaded. A cargo is considered to be part of a shipment if it has a shipment number associated with it, even if it is the only cargo in the shipment.
There is no checkbox or setting to turn co-loading on or off, but if the user does not want co-loading, they can assign shipment numbers. Because of the rules described above, that will prevent co-loading.