High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach

Optimizing the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for seaport-bound vessels is crucial to maritime operations since inaccurate ETA predictions can have a ripple effect, causing vessel schedule disruptions, congestion, and decreased port operational effectiveness. To address these challenges and fill su...

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Main Authors: Sunny Md. Saber, Kya Zaw Thowai, Muhammad Asifur Rahman, Md. Mehedi Hassan, A.B.M. Mainul Bari, Asif Raihan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Maritime Transport Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666822X2500005X
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author Sunny Md. Saber
Kya Zaw Thowai
Muhammad Asifur Rahman
Md. Mehedi Hassan
A.B.M. Mainul Bari
Asif Raihan
author_facet Sunny Md. Saber
Kya Zaw Thowai
Muhammad Asifur Rahman
Md. Mehedi Hassan
A.B.M. Mainul Bari
Asif Raihan
author_sort Sunny Md. Saber
collection DOAJ
description Optimizing the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for seaport-bound vessels is crucial to maritime operations since inaccurate ETA predictions can have a ripple effect, causing vessel schedule disruptions, congestion, and decreased port operational effectiveness. To address these challenges and fill substantial deficiencies in existing prediction models, we have introduced a novel hybrid tree-based stacking machine learning framework integrating Extra Trees, AutoGluon Tabular, and LightGBM, with Random Forest Regressor (RFR) as the meta-learner. Utilizing Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from vessels in the Baltic Sea, our model significantly improves ETA predictions, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.25 %. Compared to existing machine learning algorithms, our stacking model exhibits superior prediction performance. Our study's feature importance analysis highlights the crucial role of variables like speed, distance, course, and vessel type in ETA forecasts. Cross-validation further confirms the robustness of our ensemble model. In conclusion, this study improves predictive analytics in marine logistics by giving useful information about real-time ETA estimates. This helps port authorities make the best use of their resources, reduces vessel idle time and congestion, and increases overall efficiency and sustainability. This way, this study can significantly contribute towards attaining operational excellence and provide a strong foundation for future predictive models, advancing smart port management and maritime logistics.
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spelling doaj-art-91526833c2b24df89db656113fbe979c2025-08-20T02:10:03ZengElsevierMaritime Transport Research2666-822X2025-06-01810013310.1016/j.martra.2025.100133High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approachSunny Md. Saber0Kya Zaw Thowai1Muhammad Asifur Rahman2Md. Mehedi Hassan3A.B.M. Mainul Bari4Asif Raihan5Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, BangladeshDepartment of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, BangladeshDepartment of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, BangladeshComputer Science and Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, BangladeshDepartment of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, BangladeshOptimizing the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for seaport-bound vessels is crucial to maritime operations since inaccurate ETA predictions can have a ripple effect, causing vessel schedule disruptions, congestion, and decreased port operational effectiveness. To address these challenges and fill substantial deficiencies in existing prediction models, we have introduced a novel hybrid tree-based stacking machine learning framework integrating Extra Trees, AutoGluon Tabular, and LightGBM, with Random Forest Regressor (RFR) as the meta-learner. Utilizing Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from vessels in the Baltic Sea, our model significantly improves ETA predictions, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.25 %. Compared to existing machine learning algorithms, our stacking model exhibits superior prediction performance. Our study's feature importance analysis highlights the crucial role of variables like speed, distance, course, and vessel type in ETA forecasts. Cross-validation further confirms the robustness of our ensemble model. In conclusion, this study improves predictive analytics in marine logistics by giving useful information about real-time ETA estimates. This helps port authorities make the best use of their resources, reduces vessel idle time and congestion, and increases overall efficiency and sustainability. This way, this study can significantly contribute towards attaining operational excellence and provide a strong foundation for future predictive models, advancing smart port management and maritime logistics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666822X2500005XEstimated time of arrivals (ETA) predictionMarine vesselsPort managementEnsemble methodMachine learning
spellingShingle Sunny Md. Saber
Kya Zaw Thowai
Muhammad Asifur Rahman
Md. Mehedi Hassan
A.B.M. Mainul Bari
Asif Raihan
High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach
Maritime Transport Research
Estimated time of arrivals (ETA) prediction
Marine vessels
Port management
Ensemble method
Machine learning
title High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach
title_full High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach
title_fullStr High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach
title_full_unstemmed High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach
title_short High-accuracy prediction of vessels’ estimated time of arrival in seaports: A hybrid machine learning approach
title_sort high accuracy prediction of vessels estimated time of arrival in seaports a hybrid machine learning approach
topic Estimated time of arrivals (ETA) prediction
Marine vessels
Port management
Ensemble method
Machine learning
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666822X2500005X
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