A combined extent fuzzy AHP and simulation method for selecting stacking layout type in marine container terminals

Application of simulation and modelling approaches in decision making and design aspects of container terminals has gained lots of attention in recent years. Container terminal designers usually deal with two different layouts with vertical and horizontal stacks which directly affect on transfer cycle time and the utilisation of different equipments of a container terminal. This paper determines the more operative terminal layout for port of Anzali, the main northern port of Iran, regarding three criteria, including management, operational area, and operational time, using a fuzzy AHP decision making model. Coupled with fuzzy AHP, show flow is used as simulation software for analysing the operational time attribute. The obtained results show that the layout with horizontal stack is the more operative one for port of Anzali.