An approach of multi criteria decision making systems on ship operator selection process for freight forwarders in liner shipping transportation

In our country, senders determine the carrier selection for their goods to be carried in seaway transportation by the way of taking into consideration their companies? priorties. Freight forwarder?s activities, firstly, are to determine the most appropriate and economical carrier according to customers wishes and to carried out their counseling and mediation services. Certainly, economic reasons have priority importance in this selection process but existence of the other criterions are not denied and it?s necessary to put forward these criterions.Particularly in recent years, with being more variated of companies? aims, it?s observed that decision making problems have became more complicated from day bye day. Besides the traditional economical aim ?profit maximization?, companies, any more, have to realize many aims which are not economic but have vital importance. In this point, it is exposed that Multi Criteria Decision Making takes part with great importance in organization?s vital activities.The problem defined in this thesis is to constitute the most appropriate ship operator selection criterias and to benefit from Multi Criteria Decision Making Sistems (AHP, ELECTRE, TOPSIS) for selection process for freight forwarders in their mediation process. Fourteen freight forwarders in İzmir was interviewed for putting forward the criterions. After the interviews, it was sended two types of survey to the freight forwarders for making comparison and determinig importance degree of criterias aiming at using in Multi Criteria Decision Making Sistems. Then, with a freight forwarder, a real problem was solved with AHP, ELECTRE, TOPSIS and decision making process was completed.Key Words: Liner Transportation, Freight Forwarders, Multi Criteria Decision Making Systems (MCDMS), AHP, ELECTRE, TOPSIS