Marine Waste Management: A Framework for Identifying, Prioritizing, and Resolving Key Challenges.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Industrial Engineering
• Waste Management

Background:

• Shipbuilding and repair industries significantly impact global trade but generate substantial environmental waste.
• Effective waste management is critical to mitigate the detrimental environmental effects of these industries.
• This study investigates waste generation factors and identifies key management challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and rank major waste management challenges in the shipbuilding and ship-repair industry.
• To propose and prioritize effective solutions for addressing these challenges.
• To provide a roadmap for sustainable industry practices.

Main Methods:

• Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) was used to prioritize challenges based on expert feedback.
• Expert interviews informed the development of potential solutions.
• Best Worst Method (BWM) was employed to rank proposed solutions.

Main Results:

• The primary challenges identified are hazardous waste generation and the high cost of sustainable practices.
• Strict waste segregation and containment are ranked as top solutions for hazardous waste.
• Leveraging external funding and phased implementation are key solutions for cost challenges.

Conclusions:

• The study offers a prioritized list of challenges and solutions for shipyards globally.
• Implementing these findings can improve resource allocation, environmental performance, and regulatory compliance.
• This research supports the development of environmentally friendly and economically viable shipbuilding and repair sectors.