Preliminary Literature Review
Selecting the right shipyard and repair service provider is a key part of ship maintenance planning. Good choices help ensure safety, reduce costs, and avoid delays. Many researchers and professionals in the maritime field have studied how shipowners and managers make these decisions.
2.1 Important factors in Shipyard and Repairer Selection.
Cost: Shipowners want competitive prices without sacrificing quality.
Location: Choosing a nearby shipyard helps reduce travel time and fuel costs.
Technical Skills and Facilities: The shipyard or repairer must be capable of handling the type of work needed.
Time and Availability: Quick service and the ability to meet tight schedules are very important Reputation and Experience: Companies with a history of reliable service are preferred. Regulatory Compliance: Repairers and shipyards must meet safety, environmental, and classification society standards.
2.3 Some of the common challenges noted in previous research include:
Lack of up-to-date information on shipyard capabilities
Language and cultural differences when working in foreign countries
Supply chain delays or material shortages
Limited availability of dry docks during peak seasons
Finaly the delays and budget overruns are often caused by choosing shipyards without proper evaluation.
2.4 Use of Decision-Making Tools
To support this process, researchers and industry professionals have developed and used decision-making tools. These tools help managers make more logical, consistent, and data-driven choices, especially when dealing with multiple options and conflicting criteria.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making
AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)
Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution
Fuzzy AHP or Fuzzy Logic Models
Benefits of Using Decision-Making Tools
Improved Consistency: Decisions are made based on defined criteria, reducing bias or guesswork.
Transparency: Helps explain why a particular shipyard or repairer was selected.
Flexibility: Tools can be adapted to different types of vessels, budgets, and operational needs.
Time-Saving: Speeds up the evaluation process, especially when comparing multiple options.
Limitations
Data Dependency: The quality of results depends on the availability and accuracy of input data.
Complexity: Some tools, especially fuzzy or mathematical models, may require training or software to use effectively.
Customization: Models often need to be adjusted for specific companies or vessel types, which takes time.
While decision-making tools have been successfully used in many industries, their adoption in the maritime sector is still growing. Larger ship management companies may use advanced tools and software, while smaller operators often rely on experience or informal processes. There is a growing interest in using digital platforms and AI-based systems to automate the evaluation and selection process.
Decision-making tools such as AHP, TOPSIS, and fuzzy models can help shipowners and managers make smarter, more reliable choices when selecting shipyards and repairers. These tools reduce risk, save time, and improve overall efficiency. However, wider adoption in the maritime industry requires better awareness, access to reliable data, and simpler tools that are easy to apply in everyday operations.
3. Research Objectives and Questions
3.1Research Questions
1. What are the most important criteria used in selecting shipyards and repairers in the maritime industry?
2. How do shipowners and technical managers currently approach the selection of shipyards and repair contractors?
3. What challenges are commonly faced in the selection process (e.g., cost pressures, availability, quality concerns)?
4. What decision-making tools or methods are used to evaluate and compare different options?
5. How do safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements influence the selection process?
Can a structured framework help improve the efficiency, quality, and consistency of shipyard and repairer selection?
32 Research Objectives
To find out what important factors people look at when choosing shipyards and repair companies
(such as cost, location, skills, equipment, availability, rules, and reputation)
To understand how shipowners and managers currently choose shipyards and repairers, and what problems they face
To explore what tools or methods are used to help make better decisions when comparing different shipyards or repair services
To create a simple and useful guide that helps people choose the right shipyard or repair company more easily
To see how safety rules, environmental laws, and other regulations affect the decision when selecting shipyards and repairers.
4 Proposed Methodology and Analysis
4.1. Research Approach
This study will use a mixed-methods approach, which means it will collect and analyze both qualitative data (words, opinions, experiences) and quantitative data (numbers, rankings, statistics). This helps give a complete understanding of how shipyards and repairers are selected in real-world situations.
4.2. Data Collection Methods
a) Interviews (3)
Talk to shipowners, fleet managers, and technical staff to learn about their experiences and how they choose shipyards and repairers.
These will be semi-structured interviews, meaning the questions will be planned, but there will also be room for open discussion.
b) Questionnaires / Surveys
A short survey will be sent to people in the maritime industry.
It will ask them to rate the importance of different factors such as cost, location, experience, and quality.
The goal is to collect data from 50100 participants.
c) Document and Literature Review
Review past studies, industry reports, and real-life case examples to understand what has already been done in this area.
4.3. Sampling Method
Use purposive sampling for interviews selecting people with knowledge and experience in ship repair decisions.
Use convenience sampling for surveys sharing with available contacts in the shipping industry or through networks.
4.4.. Data Analysis
a) Qualitative Analysis (from interviews)
Use thematic analysis to find patterns in what people say during interviews.
Group similar ideas into categories such as cost concerns, availability issues, or safety priorities.
b) Quantitative Analysis (from surveys)
Use descriptive statistics (like averages or rankings) to see which factors are most important to participants.
Use simple charts or graphs to show the results clearly.
If enough data is collected, use a basic Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) model like AHP to compare how different factors are weighed.