An Approach using Multicriteria Decision Methods to Barges Configuration for Pushed Convoys in the Amazon

Abstract

The Amazon region has the largest hydrographic basin in the world and a favorable geographical location as a strategic export point but does not satisfactorily exploit its potential for transport and cargo flow, mainly as a differential factor of logistic competitiveness. For the waterway mode, cargo transportation is predominantly carried out by pushed convoys. The objective of this research is to evaluate and select, the best river train for the outflow of iron ore on the Marabá – Vila do Conde stretch, through a multiple criteria decision-making approach. To meet the objectives, a methodological framework is proposed using a hybrid AHP-DEMATEL method, based on a statistical analysis and to guarantee the reliability of the results for the proposed alternatives and not only considering the preference function, the ELECTRE method was used and also a parametric comparison of the AHP results. The main goals of this work were achieved and it was possible to infer that the combination of these methods has, in addition to the evident efficacy, a high reliability in the water transport area, being able to be used with accuracy of diverse forms in the academic area, as well as in industrial applications. Therefore, it can be affirmed that the best-pushed convoy configuration for the iron ore runoff in the Marabá – Vila do Conde stretch is composed by six barges in the arrangement of two columns and three rows with the measurements, by barge, with length of 60.96[Formula: see text]m; beam of 13.75[Formula: see text]m; and a 5[Formula: see text]m molded depth.