Patent US 5,505,585

An efficient marine/rail interface method provides for the discharge of import containers from a container ship to well cars, in the simultaneous discharge of export containers from well cars to an intermodal transition zone. Once the container ship is sufficiently unloaded, export containers from the intermodal transition zone may be loaded onto the container ship. Simultaneously, the ship may be discharged of further import containers. The method also provides for reworking of well cars at an inland port rework area, in communication between the marine/rail interface facility and the inland port rework area via a corridor. A data management system manages the intermodal exchange of containers between ship, rail and truck utilizing a common user electronic data management system.