A multi-criteria decision-making framework for managing the safety of marine recreational powered platforms: Integration with the SHELL model

The rise of marine recreational activities has led to a growing use of marine recreational powered platforms, raising safety concerns related to navigation. In Taiwan, the current regulatory system for such platforms remains fragmented and under debate. This study aims to support policy development by identifying key safety management priorities. This study utilized the four core components of the SHELL model, which include Software, Hardware, Environment, and Liveware, as the analytical foundation and identified 20 preliminary safety criteria through an extensive review of relevant literature. A Modified Delphi Method and DEMATEL analysis were applied to gather expert insights and prioritize 10 representative indicators. The resulting Influence Network Relation Map revealed that "Comprehensive Management Regulations" had the highest causal influence across all dimensions. Additionally, "Basic Navigation Concepts" and "Emergency Response and Safety Knowledge" were found to be the most central elements. Based on these findings, the study recommends targeted measures including enhanced regulation, improved training, radar monitoring, and spatial planning to reduce navigation risks and promote safer marine recreation. Building on the above findings, this study confirms the effectiveness of an innovative integration of the SHELL model and the DEMATEL method, which provides a structured and adaptive framework capable of systematically identifying systemic navigational risks in marine recreational activities.