Economics on the optimal n-step toll scheme for a queuing port

Abstract

This article establishes a series of the optimal n-step toll schemes (where n = 1, 2, 3, ....) which are levied to container ships for a queuing port. Container ships' arrival times at the port will be rationally dispersed after pricing the optimal n-step toll schemes. Consequently, the queuing time at the anchorage to all container ships will be rationally decreased. This article also shows the regularities in arrival time values, equilibrium values of queuing and operating costs, and decisions of arrival time adjustment under the optimal n-step toll schemes. All of these are important information if the port queuing pricing is planned to put into practice by the authorities.