The success factors for Ro-Ro short sea shipping in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle

This paper aims to identify key success factors for international roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) short sea shipping (SSS) operations in the Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) sub-region. A decision-support model has been developed to evaluate the viability of Ro-Ro short-sea shipping routes within the IMT-GT. Using a two-round Delphi panel of regional experts, the research identifies and weights determinants that influence Ro-Ro service performance. Nineteen main factors and sixteen sub-factors, grouped into Infrastructure, Commercial, Regulatory, and Safety and Environment clusters, were retained for the model. The highest-ranked determinants were “administrative harmonization” and “initial government assistance”, while “intermodal connectivity” and “port readiness” emerged as key operational enablers. A sensitivity analysis across four candidate routes confirms the robustness of the ranking outcomes under alternative weighting scenarios. The resulting model translates expert consensus into actionable priorities for policymakers and investors, highlighting that targeted regulatory and infrastructure interventions can offset low initial cargo volumes and accelerate sustainable short sea linkages in the IMT-GT. The study fills a regional evidence gap by quantifying factor importance for cross-border Ro-Ro services and provides a practical tool to sequence investments and reforms. Highlights Identifies key success factors for international Ro-Ro short sea shipping in the IMT-GT sub-region. Applies a Delphi-based decision-support model to evaluate cross-border Ro-Ro route viability. Reveals administrative harmonization and initial government support as dominant determinants. Demonstrates the importance of intermodal connectivity and port readiness for Ro-Ro operations. Provides a practical policy tool to prioritize investments and reforms for sustainable Ro-Ro services.