A model for supply chain and vessel traffic restoration in the event of a catastrophic port closure

The threat of a terrorist attack on an American port has received considerable attention since 9/11. The outcome implications for such an event are: (1) potential loss of life and injury, (2) environmental harm, (3) immediate uncertainty of where the compromise of the supply chain has occurred, and (4) long term deleterious effect on the current transportation security system. Yet, another important short-term outcome is the likely indefinite closure of the port-of-entry for the container, whether the event occurs at the port or the container passes through the port. The disruption of the associated supply chains necessitates complex rerouting of ocean carriers to convenient and capable alternatives. We propose a model that mitigates the resulting economic damage though a collaborative communication and decision making tool.