A hybrid SgDT framework for risk analysis of container-handling operations at automated container terminals

Abstract

With the booming maritime economy and the steady expansion of port production, automated container terminals (ACTs) have rapidly developed worldwide. The safety and stability of container-handling operations at ACTs are crucial for maintaining high efficiency and performance in maritime transportation and global supply chains. However, few studies have focused on the quantitative risk analysis of container-handling operations at ACTs. This study proposes a hybrid SgDT (STPA-grey-DEMATEL-TAISM) approach to analyze risk factors and their coupling interrelationships within ACT handling operations. Initially, 22 factors influencing ACT handling operations were identified based on the system theoretic process analysis (STPA) model and literature. Subsequently, grey theory and decision-making test and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) were fused to visualize the cause-effect relationships of these factors. Finally, the total adversarial interpretive structural model (TAISM) was adopted to extract the hierarchical interrelationships among these factors using an adversarial hierarchical structure. The findings showed that poor supervision, communication network failures, sensor malfunctions, equipment malfunctions, lack of safety awareness, and interruptions of the power supply are the most critical factors influencing ACT handling operations. This study provides theoretical insights and practical implications for managers to enhance ACT handling risk management.