A novel quantitative approach to the choice of transshipment container port in the Eastern Mediterranean basin.

In container transportation by sea, it is crucial to define the transshipment design. Liner operators aim not only to reduce operational costs but also to maximize customer satisfaction. Therefore, selecting a transshipment hub port becomes paramount for achieving efficient transshipment capabilities. The study aims to propose an alternative approach to determine the best transshipment hub port for a northbound container ship entering the Eastern Mediterranean basin through the Suez Channel. The proposed model evaluates the container ports with a novel quantitative method. The choice criteria were weighted with the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method and numerical data acquired with various scientific methods regarding each criterion was used to rank the alternatives based on TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solutions). Additionally, to generate data and utilize it as a criterion a cross-sectional efficiency snapshot regarding the evaluated container ports was also taken using the bootstrap DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis). Thus, as a decision-maker, the line operator can determine the transshipment port quickly using an easily applicable method upon determining the port calls and the schedules. The findings imply that connectivity is the most important criterion for transshipment hub port choice for containerized goods. The location was also considered important for this choice, but to improve transshipment function, the proper way may be to draw beneficial strategies on maritime connectivity. Conversely, capital investments such as superstructure improvement were found to be less critical for an attractive transshipment hub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]