An integrated MCDM approach for evaluating the Ro-Ro marine port selection process: a case study in black Sea region

ABSTRACT Selection of the appropriate Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) port is one of the crucial tasks for the maritime industry. Because there are many factors affecting the selection process, this selection process is essentially a multi-criteria decision-making problem. This paper proposes a integrated approach consisting of the CRITIC (Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation) technique and the EDAS (Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution) method to evaluate the Ro-Ro marine ports selection. The obtained results by using the proposed model have been verified carrying out a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. In accordance with this purpose, 10 different scenarios were established and five MCDM methods were applied to make a comparison. Results obtained using the suggested model were verified in dynamic conditions. The main purpose of this implementation is to determine whether any change in the obtained results for each determined scenario. Carried out sensitivity analysis shows that the suggested hybrid MCDM model consisting of CRITIC and EDAS techniques has validity and the obtained results are accurate and realistic. When the results of the sensitivity analysis are reviewed, it can be seen that the P1 option is the best alternative for all scenarios.