An arena-based simulation of capacity planning in Stage I of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement program

Abstract

The Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) was established as an Emergency Preparedness Program on January 30, 1997 following the passage of the Maritime Security Act of 1996 that led to the subsequent establishment of the Maritime Security Program (MSP). VISA is complemented by MSP; which provides the Department of Defense (DOD) with assured access to 47 militarily useful U.S.-flag commercial vessels as a condition for receiving government incentives that include preference to peacetime shipping contracts and a $2.1 million subsidy per ship/year to help defray the cost of U.S. registry. Specifically, VISA augments the organic sealift capability of DOD during a contingency or national emergency by providing assured access to time-phased U.S.-flag commercial sealift capacity, mariners, global infrastructure and intermodal facilities. The objective of this thesis-project is to apply various shipping data relevant to VISA Stage I in an Arena-based simulation model. Specifically, the model will explore capacity-planning events as they may occur during a two major theater war scenario, as well as examine elements of variability and risk that may be inherent to VISA Stage I events.