Ports’ service attributes for ship navigation safety

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the service attributes of ports for ship navigation safety. Based on the relevant literature and the features of ship navigation in ports, the service attributes of ports for ship navigation were first investigated. A fuzzy AHP model was then used to identify those attributes from shipmasters’ perspectives. Finally, a Dissatisfaction Attitude (DA) index was used to determine the attributes’ priorities, by which the port authorities may make policies for improving ship navigation safety. As an empirical study, the shipmasters berthing their ships in Kaohsiung Port were surveyed to validate the model. The result constructs 19 port service attributes (SAs) for ship navigation safety, in which, the shipmasters place more emphasis on the SAs of operators’ professional literacy, including the marine pilot’s professional and English communication abilities, the VTC (Vessel Traffic Center) regulator’s professional and English communication abilities, and the tugboat driver’s skills. While, for Kaohsiung Port, currently, the traffic control of fairway is the most important aspect to be improved. The theoretical and managerial implications of the findings for port authorities in improving ship navigation safety are discussed.