Development of feasible and sustainable Ro-Ro transportation in the Mediterranean

Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) maritime transport serves as a vital link in the Mediterranean's multimodal logistics network, enabling efficient, high-frequency movement of wheeled cargo between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Despite its strategic relevance, the sector remains constrained by infrastructural asymmetries, environmental regulations, and fragmented governance structures. This thesis develops a strategic optimization model for Mediterranean Ro-Ro networks through a three-phase research design. First, a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) framework—anchored by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)—was developed to evaluate terminal and route competitiveness across 16 critical criteria, including intermodal connectivity, environmental compliance, and port digitalization. Factor weights were derived from structured stakeholder surveys involving port authorities, shipping companies (e.g., DFDS, Grimaldi Lines, GNV), and logistics providers, ensuring empirical grounding and expert validation. Second, geospatial analysis and qualitative benchmarking of 30+ major Ro-Ro terminals—including Trieste, Barcelona, Ambarlı, and Tunis—revealed infrastructure gaps, underutilized corridors, and digital integration challenges. Third, based on latent demand mapping and AHP-derived prioritization, the thesis proposes new high-potential Ro-Ro routes: Key proposed routes—including Damietta–Patras–Trieste and Ambarlı–Trieste–Marseille—were assessed for their economic viability, sustainability impact, and alignment with EU and IMO green shipping policies.—each designed to enhance Euro-MENA trade, bypass congested land routes, and improve regional resilience. The evaluation framework integrates economic, operational, and environmental indicators in line with EU "Motorways of the Sea" and IMO decarbonization policies. By offering a scenario-based, expert-driven approach to route planning and terminal investment prioritization, this thesis contributes actionable insights for port planners, policymakers, and maritime logistics stakeholders aiming to modernize and decarbonize the Mediterranean Ro-Ro system.