Transshipment port selection in container shipping: The study on Eastern Mediterranean container ports

With this study, it has been tried to find the most efficient port by numerical and verbal methods on the selection of the transshipment port over Eastern Mediterranean Ports. The ports examined within the scope of the research are Aliaga Port, Ambarli Port, Mersin Port, Piraeus Port and Port Said Ports located in the Eastern Mediterranean geography. First of all, a literature study was conducted and the researches on port selection were examined, and the criteria and research methods used in the selection of maritime container transport transhipment port were determined from the studies examined. Criteria determined by literature research; A group of twelve people consisting of shippers, freight forwarders, liner shipping operators and port operators was asked which of the criteria is more important by means of a questionnaire. The results of the surveys were analyzed with the AHP method and the weights of the criteria were determined. In the last part of the research, using the TOPSIS method, the most ideal port for maritime container transportation transshipment port activity in the Eastern Mediterranean geography has been determined. In addition, different ideal results are also included according to the field of expertise of each expert.