Prioritizing Port`s Development Directions By Analytic Hierarchy Process Method

Ports are no longer the simple maritime services providers of the past. They are multimodal transport and logistics centres and hubs for sustainable industry and clean energy. The transition to sustainable ports, digital nodes, and energy hubs requires the radical system-led changes in the ports based on new knowledge and innovation. After a theoretical analysis of port development trends and management models used in the port development process, in this paper is proposed an approach for selecting port development priorities for the future ten years period, based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Three potential development scenarios are analyzed and evaluated based on following three selection criteria: level of revenue/profit, level of productivity, contribution to safety/security/ environmental protection in the port. AHP Hierarchy framework used was a three level model: “level 0” – goal; “level 1” – criterion; “level 2” – choice. Results of research shown that the optimal development senario is “Scenario 1”, which includes: optimizing utilization rate of existing capacity; optimizing port safety and security; optimizing environmental protection in the port; investing in keeping existing capacity unchanged, with priority investments in building new objects of port superstructure and improvements in cargo handling technologies, in accordance with concrete customer demands; introducing elements of circular economy; Results of the research can be used for prioritizing port development actions and can be taken as a realiable bases of the author`s further reaserches in this domain. Object of the research is the Port of Bar (Montenegro).