Title: A combined extent fuzzy AHP and simulation method for selecting stacking layout type in marine container terminals

Authors: Ali Reza Moazen Jahromi; Amir Saeed Nooramin; Aboozar Adljooy Safaei

Addresses: Hormozgan Marine Science and Technology Research Institute, Malek-Ashtar Applied Science and Technology Educational Centre, Bandarabbas, Iran. ' Faculty of Maritime Economics and Management, Khoramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khoramshahr, Iran. ' Faculty of Navigation and Marine Engineering, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran

Abstract: Application of simulation and modelling approaches in decision making and design aspects of container terminals has gained lots of attention in recent years. Container terminal designers usually deal with two different layouts with vertical and horizontal stacks which directly affect on transfer cycle time and the utilisation of different equipments of a container terminal. This paper determines the more operative terminal layout for port of Anzali, the main northern port of Iran, regarding three criteria, including management, operational area, and operational time, using a fuzzy AHP decision making model. Coupled with fuzzy AHP, show flow is used as simulation software for analysing the operational time attribute. The obtained results show that the layout with horizontal stack is the more operative one for port of Anzali.

Keywords: fuzzy AHP; analytical hierarchy process; decision making; simulation; stacking layout; marine container terminals; modelling; Iran; horizontal stacks; vertical stacks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2012.047624

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2012 Vol.12 No.3, pp.332 - 347

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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