An interval type-2 fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS methods for decision-making problems in maritime transportation engineering: The case of ship loader

Duration of cargo operation (loading or discharging) is of paramount importance for ship owners and port managers since idle time at terminal significantly boost to the cost of providing shipping service. Hence, it is important to choose the appropriate shiploader type for handling bulk materials. This paper aims to present a comprehensive multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method extended by interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FSs) for selecting appropriate shiploader type in maritime transportation. The proposed approach incorporates Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) under IT2FSs environment to overcome more of the uncertainty of experts’ judgement and expression in decision-making. The proposed approach adopts a sensitivity analysis to investigate the impact of key performance indicator (KPI) under numerous conditions. Besides its robust theoretical background, this paper prompts practical benefits to decision-makers (port owners or port managers) who make investment decision for appropriate shiploader type in dry bulk cargo shipment.