Dry port location selection using a fuzzy AHP-BWM-PROMETHEE approach

Due to increasing throughput and expansion in extended hinterlands, container ports worldwide are witnessing the establishment of dry ports in their hinterlands to ensure the smooth flow of containerised cargo and maintain efficient port-city relationships. Since the dry port has become a key node in maritime logistics, connecting all involved parties of the network, the proper selection of dry port location contributes to cost and lead time reductions, as well as better logistics performance. Moreover, being a coordinating component at port and hinterland interfaces, the selection of dry port locations has a significant impact on the urban and natural environment of the port city. This study proposes a framework for identifying the best location for a new dry port using three multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques, contextualizing the case study of Chittagong port, the premier port in Bangladesh. Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Best Worst Method (BWM) MCDAs have been applied to find the weights of the dry port location selection decision criteria. The derived outcomes have been used to outrank the initially identified five locations, based on the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) I and II. We find that the proximity of the dry port to the exporter and importer, accessibility of the high-capacity road network, proximity of the dry port to seaport, and availability of rail network are the crucial criteria for dry port establishment in Bangladesh. Savar has been identified as the best location for establishing new dry ports in Bangladesh, followed by Mirsharai. This research will benefit government and private investors for making their investment decisions on the selection of dry ports.