Optimization of Hub-and-spoke shipping network with waterway grade accounted in

A double objective planning model aiming at minimizing shipping cost and cargo transferring volume is built and solved with constrained optimization algorithm. The model is verified through an example calculation. The research shows the significant effect of waterway grade level to shipping network structure and the efficiency. For given ship type, if the hub node is selected to ensure small grade difference between trunk route and branch route for efficiency, the shipping cost may go up considerably. If change ship type is allowed, the effect of grade difference becomes weaker and the cost can be controlled better.