AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING REDUCTION OF PERFORMANCE IN CONTAINER HANDLING OPERATION

Abstract

This paper aims to identify and assess the Factors Causing Reduction of Performance in
Container Handling Operation at the relevant studied container terminal, the present research has
been conducted by use of TOPSIS method. In the first, having considered the daily census of
container L/U in the pertinent terminal of the port, As well, brain storming cessions attended by
experts from the mentioned terminal were held during which twenty two numbers of causes of
delay were detected. Then, based on the criteria occurrence, severity, and probability of
detection, the causes were scored. Then based on the obtained scores by each one of the causes,
the matrix of decision making was formed and the mentioned causes were ranked by use of
TOPSIS method. The obtained results via TOPSIS show that financial and administrative issues
(Ci = 0.80048) jointed with the factor of deficiency of horizontal L/U equipment (Ci = 0.80048),
then insufficiency of container yard (Ci = 0.67782) and unpreparedness of factors external to the
port (Ci = 0.67577) were detected as the most important Factors Causing Reduction of
Performance in Container Handling Operation of the studied port, respectively.