Evaluation of shipyard selection criteria for shipowners using a fuzzy technique

There are various stages to the process of acquiring a vessel. First, a decision must be made on what vessel is needed. Next, an appropriate shipyard is selected; this decision is very significant, as it will determine the workmanship quality and delivery date of the vessel to be manufactured. From the point of view of a shipowner, receiving the vessel on time and manufactured to specification is crucial. From the point of view of the shipyard, it is vital to take as many orders as possible; therefore, one of the highest priorities of shipyards is to be the first choice for as many shipowners as possible in order to increase their requirement for steel fabrication and consequently their profits. In this study, the shipyard selection criteria for shipowners are presented and the degree of importance of each criterion is determined using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique. The aim of the study is to provide shipyards with information about the perspective of shipowners with regard to the shipyard selection process, thus allowing shipyards to strengthen their weaknesses and increase the number of shipowners which choose them to manufacture their ships.