A decision support system model proposal for vessel traffic services

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) regularly revises its policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime activities, emphasizing the significance of operational measures. The growing acknowledgment of collaborative endeavours spanning maritime sectors has strengthened the feasibility of the Just-In-Time Arrival (JITA) initiative. JITA seeks to diminish unnecessary anchorage time and emissions, adversely affecting the environment and communities surrounding ports. A contention exists that the JITA policy should be adopted over the prevailing First Come-First Served (FCFS) policy, deemed ineffective and inequitable within the maritime sphere. Meeting these evolving expectations necessitates the implementation of a sustainable ship sorting policy by Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), which is positioned strategically within maritime traffic operations and equipped with the requisite technological and human resources. A proposed Decision Support System (DSS) model presents an equitable and comprehensive solution for prioritizing ship acceptance. It considers the preferences of relevant authorities and organizations during ship arrivals at ports and the service periods for incoming vessels. The model integrates methodologies such as the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and PROMETHEE II. Comparing the ship ranking outcomes generated by the DSS model with those derived from the FCFS policy reveals a substantial potential for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions emanating from ships navigating maritime areas, estimated between 32% and 45%. The model's efficacy lies in emission reduction and in ensuring fair competition among ships based on predetermined criteria, mitigating the prevalent practice of vessels striving to expedite passage across port authority borders.