Optimal tugboat placement in narrow straits for ship safety: a Fuzzy Delphi and P-Median approach, as exemplified by the Dardanelles Strait

Arıcan O. H.

SHIPS AND OFFSHORE STRUCTURES, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/17445302.2025.2502862
  • Dergi Adı: SHIPS AND OFFSHORE STRUCTURES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, INSPEC
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Ensuring maritime safety in narrow, high-traffic waterways is a major challenge, especially in strategic straits like the Dardanelles. Tugboats are essential for vessel manoeuvers and emergency response, yet their optimal placement is underexplored. This study proposes a systematic approach to determine effective tugboat locations in the Dardanelles, offering a model for other critical waterways. A three-step methodology was used: (1) Fuzzy Delphi to incorporate expert input, (2) the P-Median Problem model to identify optimal positions, and (3) Linear Programming to allocate available tugboats. Analysis of ten years of traffic and accident data highlights three key deployment points: Karanl & imath;k Liman (KLL), Abide Buoys (ABL), and Bridge Foot West (BFW). The results show that optimised tugboat placement reduces accident frequency and severity while improving traffic flow and emergency response. These findings support better allocation strategies for maritime authorities in high-risk corridors.