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Abstract: Purpose: While simulation-based optimization has been discussed in theory and practically employed at container terminals, the different publications in this field have not yet been presented and compared in a structured manner. This paper gathers the latest developments and examine the similarities and differences of the provided approaches. Furthermore, research gaps are identified. Methodology: The recent literature of simulation-based optimization on container terminals is examined using a mapping review approach. Emphasis is laid on the covered problems, chosen meta-heuristics, and the shapes of the solution space. Findings: In the applied literature of container terminals genetic algorithms prevail, both for scheduling problems and for the determination of discrete and/or continuous parameters. Because of the no-free-lunch-theorem for optimization, it is open whether the chosen optimization approach serves the purpose best. Originality: To the best of our knowledge, the existing literature regarding simulation-based optimization at container terminals has never been addressed in a detailed overview. The elaborated comparison of the different publications leads to further research directions