From a different point of view and motivated by a Belgian barge
transportation network, Caris, Macharis, and Janssens (2012) study
a SND problem focusing on cooperation of inland terminals and
line bundling. They define different cooperation scenarios and analyze
them by means of simulation. The authors conclude that given
the current transport volumes, more bundling opportunities may
be created by reducing the number of departures or setting up a
truck collection/distribution network. However, reducing the number
of departures may lead to less service offered to customers.
This can be solved by more cooperation between inland terminals
to attain economies of scale and to reduce maximum waiting times
for inland barges at sea terminals.