ABSTRACT: A key component of multimodal logistics in the Mediterranean, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping is beset by increasing capacity limitations, environmental regulations, and port coordination gaps. This study creates an integrated framework for improving current and future Ro-Ro routes by bridging two previously discrete approaches: AIS-based Geographic Information System (GIS) traffic analysis and expert-driven Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) weighting. Consistent priority weights were obtained from paired comparisons provided by twenty domain experts (CR = 0.032). These weights were superimposed on basin-wide AIS density layers in September 2024 to identify underserved routes and bottlenecks. The results show that while green corridor potential in the Eastern Mediterranean is still mostly unrealised, high-frequency handling capacity, intermodal connectivity, and advanced port community systems collectively account for more than 27% of the variance in route performance. Three of the five candidate routes that the framework creates from a selected shortlist offer travel time reductions of more than 18% when compared to existing services. The work contributes to the field of maritime logistics by showing how evidence-based corridor planning can be supported by spatially contextualising multi-criteria decision models. Policymakers pursuing Fit-for-55 standards and operators looking to create robust, low-carbon supply chains are given implications.

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