Abstract: Under the fuzzy random empty container demand and supply, considering empty container lease and empty container reposition together, a multiple stage optimization model for a port’s empty container inventory and the inventory interval was developed. A numerical example was provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model, and analyze the effects of the rented empty containers’ quantity, the empty reposition cost, the fluctuation and uncertainty of empty container demand and supply on the port’s optimal empty container inventory.

Key words: waterway transportation, inventory of empty container, empty container reposition, fuzzy random variable, signed distance