A shortage of empty containers has become a global crisis with more devastating effects than during previous periods when combined with various problems arising from the COVID-19, such as an increase in an imbalance of global trade between supply and demand, a decrease in the workforce, and restrictions by countries or regional quarantine practices. The absence of empty containers in regions where they are needed slows down industrial activities and locks the global supply networks, necessitating the use of alternative methods that are inefficient. Although this shortage causes many disruptions in global trade, solutions to the issue have not been studied in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the issues caused by the shortage of empty containers and to rank the appropriate solutions. Four main criteria and sixteen subcategories used to define the issues, as well as a multi criteria decision model comprising five criteria for the solutions, were proposed based on information from the literature, sectorial publications, and expert opinions. The issues’ weighted order of importance in our proposed model was calculated using the SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) method; solutions were ranked using the ARAS (Additive Ratio Assessment) method. The results of the study revealed that the issues were ranked in importance as cost increases, uncertainty in the supply chain, volume loss, and increases in blank sailing announcements. Appropriate solutions were ranked as booking guarantee applications and information communication technologies, using shipper-owned containers, inducement calls, and E2E (end to end) delivery services.

It is crucial to implement quality standards systems to achieve and maintain the requirements in maritime education and training stipulated by the International Maritime Organization and Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention and Code. The study offers suggestions for analysing and improving the understanding of quality and quality criteria in maritime education. For this purpose, in line with the literature review and expert opinions, 38 sub-criteria were determined under five main criteria, and these criteria were prioritised using the Best Worst Method through the agency of 10 experts. The results of the study showed that the most fundamental criteria in the quality of maritime education and training are professional and personal development, sense of professional ethics, publication and research, and compliance with and effective use of course hours, respectively. The results of the study have also enabled educational institutions to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in terms of quality.

Sustainability and safety in the maritime sector mostly relies on seafarers for ensure the safe and secure operation of ships. Selection of personnel in the maritime sector is based on a large number of criteria, and is dictated by the seafarer’s qualification and the type of ship. The present study identifies 24 criteria in the form of personal, professional, physical, and technical competencies, categorized under four main headings, and calculates the weights of these criteria in terms of their importance. It goes on to present the general seafarer criteria and the different criteria required by different types of companies, and finally presents a model that can serve as a guide the in the selection of the best seafarer depending on the ship type. The study makes use of Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis and Additive Ratio Assessment methods, which are multi-criteria decision making methods.

This study examines the measures taken to prevent illicit fuel activities in maritime with particular focus on the case of Turkey. While creating the analytical hierarchy for the study, interviews and meetings were conducted with members of the Anti-Oil Smuggling Committee of the Ministry of Trade, representatives of foreign missions, and the academicians and students of maritime colleges. The weights of the criteria and sub-criteria were calculated together with the expert group serving on the anti-smuggling committee using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the alternatives were ordered using the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. Most important suggestion is found special consumption tax relief & taking of quantities into account in fines.

This study proposes a novel dual-role weighting framework for dry port location selection, bridging the gap between commercial logistics efficiency and strategic disaster resilience. Designed to establish a new theoretical evaluation paradigm, the research utilizes the Fuzzy Rough SWARA (FR-SWARA) method and a 12-person expert panel to weigh a comprehensive set of 31 criteria under high-dimensional uncertainty. The findings reveal a decisive hierarchical shift, where spatial and infrastructure-related dimensions significantly outweigh traditional cost considerations. This empirical evidence substantiates the transition from ‘just-in-time’ to ‘Just-in-Case’ logistics architectures. Ultimately, the study reconceptualizes the dry port as a ‘strategic stabilizer’—a critical infrastructure node that absorbs systemic shocks and maintains supply chain continuity during diverse crises, including natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed weighting framework offers a robust theoretical roadmap for policy and managerial decision-making in volatile geographies.