摘要：Aimed at detection and prioritization of causes of delay in dry bulk cargo loading/unloading operation at the relevant terminal of Latakia port of Syria, the present research has been conducted by use of PROMETHEE method in three stages. In the first stage, the number of lags and halts in loading/unloading operation (hereinafter referred to as L/U operation) and the involving causes during a specific period were studied. As well, brain storming cessions attended by experts from the mentioned terminal were held during which seventeen numbers of causes of delay were detected. Then, based on the criteria of determination of causes occurrence probability (occurrence frequency), the extent of causes impact on process after occurrence (severity) and probability of detection of causes before having impact on the process (detection), the causes were scored in form of a scale ranging from 1 to 10. In the second stage, using AHP method, the mentioned criteria were weighted. The criterion of occurrence probability was the most weighted (0.43) and the criterion of detection probability was the least weighted (0.26). Based on the obtained scores by each one of the causes, the matrix of decision making was formed and the mentioned causes were ranked by use of PROMETHEE method.
