Application of IT2Fs-AHP and TOPSIS modeling for performance analysis of tank coatings in chemical tankers

There are a wide range of chemical cargoes carried in chemical tankers. The chemical tankers are carrying hazardous chemical cargoes in their cargo tanks. When carrying hazardous chemicals in cargo tanks, the coating is required which is to provide safety barrier between the hull plate and the cargo. Therefore, capabilities of cargo tanks are of paramount importance for safe and efficient transport. Tank coatings to be applied to chemical tankers are epoxy coatings, zinc silicate coating, stainless steel coating, and marine line coating. This paper aims at conducting a numerical performance analysis of tank coatings in chemical tankers to contribute decision-making process of shipowner and safety professionals. To achieve this purpose, a multi-criterion decision-making (MCDM) tool is adopted: An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) under interval type-2 fuzzy set (IT2Fs) environment. The outcomes of the numerical performance analysis showed that stainless steel type tank coating has the best performance since result of closeness coefficient value c( xj) is found 0.55. The findings of the research will contribute chemical tanker ship owners, safety inspectors, naval architects, and safety professionals during decision-making process of ideal cargo tank coating.