Using multi-criteria decision making method in selection of shi inspection companies: AHP application

Ship surveillance enterprises play a critical role in ensuring safety, efficiency, and quality standards in maritime transportation. The selection of such enterprises involves multiple criteria, making the decision-making process complex. In this study, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was employed to support the decision-making process. AHP enables decision-makers to comparatively evaluate criteria and alternatives. Based on a literature review and consultations with six experts, six criteria influencing the selection of ship surveillance enterprises were identified. The importance weights of these criteria were calculated through pairwise comparisons conducted with experts, and decision matrices were developed. The importance weights, consistency ratios, and overall performances of the criteria were analyzed. In the final stage, the geometric mean of the experts' evaluations for each alternative was calculated, multiplied by the previously determined importance weights of the criteria, and the total scores were obtained. Accordingly, "International Regulations and Legal Compliance" was identified as the most critical criterion with a weight of 0.40, while Alternative 1 was determined to be the most preferable enterprise with a total score of 0.374.