Proposing a solution for choosing port layout problem in ro-ro transportation and applying it to İstanbul

Ro-Ro is an acronym for Roll on/Roll off and a type of ship that carries wheeled cargo suchas automobiles, trailers and lorries. Ro-Ro vessels allow the cargo to be rolled on and rolledoff the vessel when in port. A series of external and internal ramps facilitate the loading anddischarge of Ro-Ro cargo. The type of cargo that can be carried on a Ro-Ro is flexible,including large objects. Ro-Ro ships provides safe cargo transport and they are capable ofmeeting customers? needs.Transportation is crucial for economy by providing essential support for commercial andindustrial activities and foreign trade. Transportation is gaining even more importance nowwith globalisation. In Turkey, Ro-Ro sector must keep a good position in all transportationsector.In Ro-Ro transportation, choosing port layout is a big problem, because there are a lot ofcritical factors. For example, the port you have chosen must be near loading or unloadingpoints, total costs must be minimum. In this study, we determined some critical factors forthree Ro-Ro ports in stanbul.In this study after the introduction, in the second chapter, transportation theory have beenexamined and marine transportation and its structure were described.In the third chapter, Ro-Ro definition have been examined in detail including Ro-Ro systemand its environment, value adding services in Ro-Ro and Ro-Ro transportation costs. Andcommon Ro-Ro applications in the World and Turkey have been researched.In the fourth chapter, technical analysis of Ro-Ro was made. In the fifth chapter, Pendik Ro-Ro port and UN Ro-Ro corporation were examined. In the sixth chapter, we gave someinformation about alternative Ambarlı, Silivri and Kavaklı ports and a Ro-Ro transportationmodel proposed stanbul has been given.Keywords: Ro-Ro transportation, Cargo ship, Port selection, Intermodal transportation.