•Infrastructure and waste management are the major problems in the creation of a sustainable port.•Women are more positively inclined towards the development of such a port.•The labour force (group 18–64) considers a green port positive.•Environmental and economic variables are assessed lower as the respondents’ age increases.•Citizens with a lower educational level have lower-rated social variables in relation to environment and economy with educational level. As global maritime trade continues to soar, there is a growing demand for a sustainable balance between economic, social, and environmental performance. Thus, transparent assessment, strengthening the governance and scientific cooperation, as well as developing comprehensive communication are required amongst all interested parties to create realistic plans to meet sustainable development goals. This case study research thoroughly analyzes a Mediterranean port to find challenges and possible solutions to creating a sustainable port. The goal is to provide a methodology for policymakers to develop their future strategies for optimizing sustainable multi-objective design indicators. In addition, it addresses relative purposes for the sustainability of maritime transportation, such as improving energy efficiency, improving the quality of marine waters, and employing green technologies. Initially, key performance indicators were used to solve the multi-objective optimization problem. Then, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, the correlation of different criteria about specific demographics was studied. A factor analysis was applied by reducing the variables while maintaining as much information as possible. The methodology provides both quantitative and qualitative tools for policymakers to develop their future strategies to optimize environmental (i.e., new technological tools for reducing/eliminating pollution, recycling), social (i.e., motivations for social participation), and economic (i.e., willingness to pay) sustainability. The results indicated that the responders attributed low scores to road quality, traffic, and waste management but assessed positive indicators such as renewable energy resources, air quality, noise, and dust. Besides, a strong relationship was revealed between gender, age, and educational level with sustainability issues such as social acceptance, environmental awareness, and economic contribution.