The　hesitant　fuzzy　linguistic　term　sets　(HFLTSs)　are　capable　of　accurately　capturing　decision　makers’　subjective　characteristics,　thereby　resolving　the　issue　of　uncertain　ambiguity　in　decision-making　concerning　existing　ship　water　pollutant　receiving　facilities　(SWPRF).　This　paper　introduces　an　enhanced　TODIM　approach　that　incorporates　optimized　dominance　degrees　to　overcome　the　shortcomings　associated　with　current　research　assumptions　regarding　known　weights,　artificial　elements,　and　disregard　for　decision　makers’　psychological　behavior.　Firstly,　we　introduce　a　new　HFLTS　hesitancy　degree　(HFLTS-HD)　and　bidirectional　projection　model　to　handle　the　problem　of　unknown　weights.　Moreover,　our　proposed　model　incorporates　attribute　weights,　decision　maker　weights,　and　hesitant　fuzzy　linguistic　weighted　operators.　Secondly,　considering　the　inconsistency　in　the　cardinality　of　elements　within　the　hesitant　fuzzy　linguistic　term　set,　we　define　the　hesitant　fuzzy　linguistic　signed　distance　(HFLSD).　Eventually,　using　Taizhou　SWPRF　and　its　disposal　facilities　as　a　case　study,　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　scheme　is　demonstrated,　while　highlighting　the　superiority　of　the　proposed　method　through　a　comparison　with　two　existing　approaches.　©　2023,　The　Author(s)　under　exclusive　licence　to　Taiwan　Fuzzy　Systems　Association.