QTs - Quantum Tug Scheduling

Project goal

The QTs project aims to increase the efficiency and sustainability of tugboat dispatching in the Port of Hamburg. A hybrid optimization process that uses both classical and quantum computing (QC) solution methods is intended to enable faster and more accurate scheduling. The increased planning accuracy will reduce fuel consumption and delays while ensuring reliable tugboat availability. A user-friendly interface for operations management will validate the integration of quantum computing solutions into existing operations management systems.

 

Objectives

• Realistic modeling and formalization of tugboat dispatching as a mathematical optimization problem
• Problem decomposition (decomposition methods) and solution using a hybrid approach, e.g., classical solvers for continuous subproblems, quantum algorithms for discrete subproblems
• Integration of the solution methodology into existing software environments for a user-friendly interface for operations management
• Expansion with historical and real-time data

 

Role of CML

Fraunhofer CML initially supports the application-oriented requirements analysis. We then model and formalize tugboat dispatching as a mathematical optimization problem. We subsequently design and implement decomposition and quantum algorithms and provide support for their integration into a holistic software system. We also evaluate the results and derive a roadmap for industrial QC deployment.

 

Project consortium

The consortium consists of the software provider soft-park GmbH (consortium leader), the tugboat company FAIRPLAY Schleppdampfschiffs-Reederei Richard Borchard GmbH, and Fraunhofer CML.

 

Funding

The project will be funded over a period of two years, beginning in July 2025, by the “Programm für Innovation (PROFI) - Modul PROFI Transfer” of the Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB Hamburg).