Enhancing Port Security Management in Taiwan's International Commercial Ports

Despite not being a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Taiwan voluntarily adheres to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code to maintain alignment with international maritime security standards. This study aims to identify pivotal factors influencing port security through an analysis of existing security strategies and the proposal of a standardized security inspection framework, thereby bolstering the global competitiveness of Taiwan's commercial ports. A literature review and bibliometric analysis to explore the current research status of port safety strategy formulation were initially conducted to develop a security management framework, encompassing 12 sub-criteria categorized into four critical criteria: Port Management Authority, Facility Lessees, Security Law Enforcement Agencies, and Security Policies and Regulations. An online questionnaire survey was conducted by port authorities, the Coast Guard Administration, Port Police, Customs personnel, and other relevant stakeholders, as well as scholars specializing in port security research. In total, 52 reply samples were collected. This study employs a fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, integrating expert opinions from both academic scholars and industry professionals, to evaluate critical dimensions of port security governance. The responses from academic scholars and industry professionals were compared. Results indicate that academics regard all four criteria as equally important, while industry professionals prioritize Port Management Authority as the most important, closely followed by Security Policies and Regulations. At the sub-criteria level, both groups identified the top two sub-criteria under Port Management Authority, showing strong agreement across sectors. However, a significant difference emerges in the evaluation of "Formulation of a Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP) and vessel protection plan," where academic scholars rank it much higher than industry professionals. This study offers a novel analysis of Taiwan's port security governance by integrating academic and industry perspectives through a fuzzy MCDM framework. The study contributes theoretical value by validating fuzzy logic in maritime security decision-making and provides practical insights for enhancing the implementation, regulatory clarity, and international alignment of PFSPs.