Strategic approaches to crisis management: Global challenges in the Turkish container shipping sector due to the COVID-19

•The challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkish container shipping industry are explained.•Determined appropriate solutions for challenges in Turkish container shipping industry.•The most appropriate solution is to alternative vessel loading.•The main challenge is the increased shipping cost. The Covid-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the sector, and Türkiye’s strategic location plays a crucial role in crisis management. This study aims to explore the repercussions of the pandemic on the sector and propose appropriate solutions. To identify the most effective solutions for prioritizing the challenges posed by Covid-19, 53 sector experts participated in the study. The Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis method was used to weigh the criteria representing these challenges. The solutions were ranked using the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment and Combined Compromise Solution methods. The results indicate that the primary challenge is the increased shipping cost, followed by the prolongation of the transport time, global-scale impacts, and port congestion. The most appropriate solution identified was alternative vessel loading, followed by mixed-mode transportation usage, reservation guarantees, long-term contracts with shipping operators, integrated logistics services, container purchases, and technological integration.