Optimum site selection for oil spill response center in the Marmara Sea using the AHP-TOPSIS method

The aim of this study is to determine the optimum location for an oil spill response center in the Marmara Sea. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for the order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method as the most preferred multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique were used. The results reveal that the LOC criterion and PRA sub-criterion have the highest effects on the optimal location selection of the oil spill response center. According to the results, the most suitable location for the oil spill response center in the region is Izmit Bay Entrance. This location has been proposed for the response headquarters to manage the whole operation with the assistance of auxiliary installations in the area. In this study, only technical and operational variables are taken into account, but political and administrative criteria are excluded.