Evaluation of the effective factors of unloading and loading goods in ports and the impact on the environment using the MCDM method.

Today, the impact of transportation on sustainable development is undeniable. Maritime transport, as one of the important pillars of this industry and due to its advantages such as low cost and large volume of freight, plays a key role in the development of foreign trade. This study uses TOPSIS and DEMATLE methods to evaluate the factors affecting the unloading and loading of goods on the port's environment. The results of TOPSIS method on the main criteria showed that the atmospheric factors' criterion had the highest weight and the port criterion (includes activities that occur in the port) had the lowest weight. In the sub-criteria section, the suitable visibility of the crane operator had the highest rank and the sub-criterion of storage capacity and its (storage) area obtained the lowest rank. Also, the results of DEMATEL method on the cause-and-effect relationship of sub-criteria of unloading and loading of goods showed that coastal transport equipment, unloading and loading equipment, and safety required for unloading goods are influenced higher than other sub-criteria and also the impact of safety required for unloading goods, proper visibility of the crane operator, and the ability of unloading equipment is greater than other sub-criteria. The results of cause-and-effect relationship for sub-criteria of the port environment showed that the impact of sewage, sanitary effluents from the port and ships, and hazardous waste is higher than other sub-criteria and also the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons, sediments, and toxic substances is higher than other sub-criteria.