A framework for the impact analysis on earthquakes and tsunamis on seaport operations by using evidential reasoning

ABSTRACT

In terms of global transport issues, the port industry provides a major advantage by linking countries through seaborne trade. Nonetheless, natural hazards often threaten the profitability of seaport operations. Since most ports are situated in coastal areas, they are highly vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. Earthquakes and tsunamis phenomena have been critically addressed at the operational planning stage in the maritime transport sector, where the disruption management department considers these phenomena as the major events that can lead to operation disruption. A new framework to study the destruction of earthquakes and tsunamis during seaport operations is established in this paper. For modeling the disruption analysis, a blend of various decision-making approaches such as Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Evidential Reasoning (ER), is used to model the disturbance analysis. Firstly, by using the AHP process, the disruption of earthquakes and tsunamis in seaport operations is defined and prioritized. Secondly, the disruption stages are assessed and synthesized by using the ER method. Penang Port is chosen as a case study to illustrate the applicability of the research model. This analysis model is capable of assisting seaport operators to perform self-assessment of earthquakes and tsunamis to improve the operational sustainability in a seaport.

KEYWORDS:

• Disruption
• earthquakes
• tsunamis
• seaport operations
• Analytic Hierarchy process
• Evidential Reasoning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nurul Haqimin Mohd Salleh

Dr Nurul Haqimin Mohd Salleh is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Maritime Studies at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. His research interests lie in the area of maritime operation, ranging from uncertainty treatment to risk and reliability management, with a focus on maritime sector. In recent years, he has focused on modelling and assessing country risk for shipping operation, organisational reliability and capability of a liner shipping operator. He also developed new models for predicting a liner vessel’s punctuality (arrival and departure) under dynamic environments. Other research that he involved are environmental risk assessment, Kra canal, halal transportation, maritime health and safety, maritime supply chain, navigational security, and maritime tourism.

Siti Atikah Md Alias

Siti Atikah Md Alias is currently working as Customer Service (Logistics) at Schenker Logistics (M) Private Limited.

Siti Marsila Mhd Ruslan

Siti Marsila Mhd Ruslan is a senior lecturer at in the Faculty of Maritime Studies at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Her research interest are mostly related to maritime economics, supply chain and macroeconomics and has published articles in several journals such as International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance, Institutions and Economies, International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, and Cogent Business and Management.