Hierarchical management system is the next step for the development of container terminals all over the planet. The existing restrictions in transshipment operations are difficult to predict and invariably lead to a decrease in the terminal's throughput. The authors show that in modern control systems for the operation of a port container terminal, most of the automated processes use imperfect work algorithms and require optimal control based on the development of new approaches. The hierarchical multi-level control system proposed in the work, in comparison with traditional control methods, allows to reach the level of minimum energy consumption with the highest possible speed of containers unloading from the ship. For this control system, the authors formulated a model, an algorithm for implementing the work of control controllers and set optimal levels of control over work processes.
Keywords: Hierarchical management system, Port container terminals, Multi-level control system, Operational characteristics