energies Article The Model of Support for the Decision-Making Process, While Organizing Dredging Works in the Ports Adam Kaizer * and Tomasz Neumann   Citation: Kaizer, A.; Neumann, T. The Model of Support for the Decision-Making Process, While Organizing Dredging Works in the Ports. Energies 2021, 14, 2706. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092706 Academic Editor: Eduard Petlenkov Received: 6 April 2021 Accepted: 4 May 2021 Published: 9 May 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Department of Navigation, Gdynia Maritime University, 81-345 Gdynia, Poland; t.neumann@wn.umg.edu.pl * Correspondence: a.kaizer@wn.umg.edu.pl Abstract: The aim of the research was to create a decision-making model, which would be able to support planning, organizing and conducting the dredging works in the port area. The proposed solution is a multiple element system which enables to verify, in a comprehensive way, the majority of the aspects determining the quality and the time of dredging enterprise realization. The paper presents an original approach to the decision-making process during the organization of dredging works, using the computer program. In order to achieve the main goal of the study, the conditions of dredging works were considered. Furthermore, the factors that have an influence on the schedule of the project were evaluated and algorithms, as well as process organization schemes, were developed. If it is not enough, the decision models corresponding to the discussed issue were analysed and the computer program was created. And last but not the least, the proposed project and equipment were verified using a simulation model. While creating this model, the method of multiple criteria AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) decision support was used. Moreover, the mass service model with the priority queue regulations, the expert study, and statistical analysis of the traffic flow, were provided. The model was developed in reliance to multiple criteria studies, based on the opinions of multinational experts. These enabled to adjust each element of the system in accordance with various locations. As a result of the research, the following thesis has been proven, that detailed analysis of the conditions of dredging works and taking into account the received conclusions enables to reduce the costs and shorten the time of dredging projects realizations. Keywords: dredging; port; decision making; computer support systems 1. Introduction The constant increase in the technical parameters of seagoing vessels causes difficulties in servicing the largest ships in the ports where the dimensions of the ports areas and technical depths are insufficient. Therefore, dredging works are nowadays an area of interest of port authorities as a necessary investment for further development [1,2]. Port dredging is a long-term and burdensome process throughout the regular operation of navigation and the normal functioning of port terminals [3–6]. The aim of the study was to create a decision model, in the form of a computer application, which would be able to support planning, organizing and conducting the dredging works in the port area [7]. The proposed solution is a multi-element system which enables to conduct a comprehensive verification of most of the aspects determining a quality and a time of dredging [8]. Scientific research concerning dredging work is widely described in the literature published most often in the Netherlands, Belgium, England, China, and also the USA [9,10]. However, in such publications, many items refer to the construction and operation of dredging equipment, but rarely to the technology of conducting dredging work. Further- more, scientific publications and numerous post-conference materials broadly describe the aspects of ecology associated with this type of work [11–13]. When reviewing the commer- cial literature, it can be noticed that reports are published for particular investments with local conditions [14–17]. Energies 2021, 14, 2706. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092706 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies