Editorial

9 pages, 204 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Sustainability Challenges in Maritime Transport and Logistics Industry and Its Way Ahead

by Paul Tae-Woo Lee, Oh Kyoung Kwon and Xiao Ruan

Sustainability 2019, 11(5), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051331 - 04 Mar 2019

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 15435

Sustainability issues in the field of shipping, port and maritime logistics, commonly known as the maritime transport and logistics industry, have historically received less stakeholder attention as compared to aviation and overland freight sectors. However, as International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations on ships [...] Read more.

Sustainability issues in the field of shipping, port and maritime logistics, commonly known as the maritime transport and logistics industry, have historically received less stakeholder attention as compared to aviation and overland freight sectors. However, as International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations on ships and port/city interaction has increased since 1997, the stakeholders in the industry have gradually started paying attention to sustainability issues, across all the sectors, such as, aviation, land transport, and supply chain. As a result, the industry has accumulated a significant body of academic research outcomes over the last two decades. This Special Issue aims to examine the various themes in recent sustainability studies, particularly relating to shipping, port, and maritime logistics, and identify and discuss the key topics emerging in sustainability in the industry. It will contribute to increasing industry stakeholders’ understanding of the current situation in sustainability, assist them in the design of appropriate managerial insights and help them develop appropriate sustainability policies for the industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

Research

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15 pages, 4610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Stakeholder Perspective of Port City Sustainable Development

by Jasmine Siu Lee Lam and Wei Yim Yap

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020447 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 8578

Abstract

As world seaborne trade continues to grow, especially in view of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), there is a mounting demand for a sustainable balance among the economic, social, and environmental performance of the port cities involved. This study aims to first [...] Read more.

As world seaborne trade continues to grow, especially in view of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), there is a mounting demand for a sustainable balance among the economic, social, and environmental performance of the port cities involved. This study aims to first conduct a review of existing sustainability frameworks; second, conduct a stakeholder analysis for port city sustainable development. The case studies of two major port cities in China—Guangzhou and Shenzhen, are conducted. According to the findings, a structured framework with main categories of economic, social and environmental indicators would be recommended for port cities. Dealing with diversified stakeholders and their interests is a major challenge for policy makers to overcome but opportunities do co-exist. Policy makers of Guangzhou and Shenzhen have made progress in balancing economic, social, and environmental interests in recent years. This study has taken a step forward in the research area, with a view to provide reference to stakeholders and governments in progressing towards sustainable development in port cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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17 pages, 1962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tacit Collusion of Pricing Strategy Game between Regional Ports: The Case of Yangtze River Economic Belt

by Gang Dong and Dandan Zhong

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020365 - 12 Jan 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3473

Abstract

We develop a game model to analyze the tacit collusion between regional ports under three different scenarios. In the first scenario, there is simultaneous pricing game between regional ports; this intends to depict pricing strategy adopted independently. In the second, we consider two [...] Read more.

We develop a game model to analyze the tacit collusion between regional ports under three different scenarios. In the first scenario, there is simultaneous pricing game between regional ports; this intends to depict pricing strategy adopted independently. In the second, we consider two competing ports that make sequential pricing decisions. Thirdly, an infinitely repeated game model is then formulated for regional ports to test the stability of Nash equilibrium. Our main finding is that there is a certain degree of tacit collusion of pricing strategy between regional ports in the competitive environment; in particular, the tacit collusion of pricing strategy will gradually stabilize with the increasing number regional ports games. A case study of Yangtze River Economic Belt is provided to illustrate the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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17 pages, 3314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Green Ports with the Consideration of Coastal Wave Energy

by Li Li, Jiadong Zhu, Guanqiong Ye and Xuehao Feng

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4270; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114270 - 19 Nov 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3335

Abstract

Considering the rapid development of maritime logistics, the reduction of energy consumption at ports is important in the sustainable development of global economics. Oceans have been known as sources of clean energy, and wave energy is attracting more and more attention from both [...] Read more.

Considering the rapid development of maritime logistics, the reduction of energy consumption at ports is important in the sustainable development of global economics. Oceans have been known as sources of clean energy, and wave energy is attracting more and more attention from both scholars and practitioners. Even though much effort has been made to develop advanced technologies of wave energy, it is still not clear how ports and electricity plants will evaluate its performance and make decisions on the investment. This paper analyzed the decision framework of ports and electricity plants that can decide how much to invest into wave energy converters, by considering the uncertainty of wave energy supply. A mathematical model is developed to obtain the optimal decisions of a single port and electricity plant for different cases. We show that in most cases, the port has a no lower motivation for investing in the wave energy than the electricity plant. Our theoretical analyses also shed light on the impacts of the parameters on the optimal decisions. Considering the difficulty in estimating the uncertainty of wave energy supply, we extend the distribution-free model to our problem which can make our model more practical. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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16 pages, 1268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Container Transport Network for Sustainable Development in South Korea

by Kevin X. Li, Tae-Joon Park, Paul Tae-Woo Lee, Heather McLaughlin and Wenming Shi

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3575; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103575 - 07 Oct 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5104

Abstract

The ever-increasing tendency toward economic globalization highlights the importance of sustainable container transport networks to a country’s international trade, especially for an economy that is highly dependent on exports. This paper aims to develop a transport network connectivity index (TNCI) to measure the [...] Read more.

The ever-increasing tendency toward economic globalization highlights the importance of sustainable container transport networks to a country’s international trade, especially for an economy that is highly dependent on exports. This paper aims to develop a transport network connectivity index (TNCI) to measure the container transport connectivity from a multi-modal perspective. The proposed index is based on both graph theory and economics, considering transport infrastructure and capacity, cargo flow, and capacity utilization. Using the case of South Korea as an example, we apply the TNCI to assess the connectivity of the Busan, Gwangyang, and Incheon ports, representing approximately 96% of the container throughput in South Korea. The calculated TNCI not only provides insight into the assessment of sustainable port competitiveness, it also helps policymakers identify bottlenecks in multi-modal transport networks. To eliminate these bottlenecks, this paper offers some appropriate measures and specific strategies for port development, which in turn improves the connectivity of container transport networks for sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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19 pages, 5837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Sustainability Literature in Maritime Studies with Text Mining

by Sung-Ho Shin, Oh Kyoung Kwon, Xiao Ruan, Prem Chhetri, Paul Tae-Woo Lee and Shahrooz Shahparvari

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3522; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103522 - 30 Sep 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5749

Abstract

Since the world’s first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, sustainability has become a focal point of significant debate for industry, government, and international organizations. As a result, research on sustainability of maritime logistics is on the rise, yet fragmented in [...] Read more.

Since the world’s first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, sustainability has become a focal point of significant debate for industry, government, and international organizations. As a result, research on sustainability of maritime logistics is on the rise, yet fragmented in terms of conceptual development, empirical testing and validation, and theory building. The aim of this paper is therefore two-fold: the first aim is to present a literature review of key journal articles in the field of maritime studies published between 1993 and 2017 using a technique of topic modelling; and the second is to provide future research directions with respect to major topics, themes and co-authorship patterns. Mapping and consolidation of sustainability issues are achieved by conducting a generative probabilistic text-mining technique, called latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), for latent data discovery and relationships among text document data. Moreover, bibliometric analysis is conducted to visualize the landscape of sustainability research. Based on the results, a new intellectual structure of sustainability research is created, the underlying themes are identified, key trends and patterns are extracted and future research development trajectories are mapped for the field of maritime studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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26 pages, 1902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling a Three-Mode Hybrid Port-Hinterland Freight Intermodal Distribution Network with Environmental Consideration: The Case of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China

by Qian Dai, Jiaqi Yang and Dong Li

Sustainability 2018, 10(9), 3081; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093081 - 29 Aug 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4215

Abstract

Efficiency challenges of the hinterland connectivity, along with growing green concerns necessitate the integration of economic goals and environmental considerations, for port-hinterland logistics problems. This study focused on innovative modeling, for a three-mode port-hinterland intermodal freight distribution system, from the perspective of shippers. [...] Read more.

Efficiency challenges of the hinterland connectivity, along with growing green concerns necessitate the integration of economic goals and environmental considerations, for port-hinterland logistics problems. This study focused on innovative modeling, for a three-mode port-hinterland intermodal freight distribution system, from the perspective of shippers. A hybrid distribution network topology, combining point to point, hub-and-spoke, and connected hubs was designed as route alternatives for loads from origin to destination. A bi-objective decision framework involving analytical scenarios of emissions limitation, emissions taxation, and an emissions trading scheme, was developed for policy analysis, and then applied to a real-life hinterland logistics network in the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China. The results showed that the implementation of the three emissions policies, all resulted in great changes in flows between intermodal routes and achieved emissions reduction goals. Nevertheless, the conflict between logistics costs and carbon emissions, differs from policy to policy. Some inflection points were identified to offer decision supports on policy insights, for the port-hinterland distribution network. Lastly, a sensitivity analysis on cost and emissions parameters was given. It revealed that the flow changes and trade-off relationship between economic and environmental objectives, were both sensitive to the road transportation mode. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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17 pages, 1357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating the Additive Seasonal Model and Super-SBM Model to Compute the Efficiency of Port Logistics Companies in Vietnam

by Chia-Nan Wang, Jen-Der Day, Nguyen Thi Kim Lien and Luu Quoc Chien

Sustainability 2018, 10(8), 2782; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082782 - 06 Aug 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3580

Abstract

The growing trade process is pushing the importing and exporting ratio of products at ports in Vietnam. The total amount of goods is determined by analyzing the effectiveness of products that are delivered at ports. Thus, this research presents a whole performance picture [...] Read more.

The growing trade process is pushing the importing and exporting ratio of products at ports in Vietnam. The total amount of goods is determined by analyzing the effectiveness of products that are delivered at ports. Thus, this research presents a whole performance picture of the port logistics operation process at two airports and six seaport logistics companies in Vietnam to describe exchanging products by utilizing additive trend methods to formulate the efficiency and rank them from previous periods to future terms. Based on the prediction analysis, the best accuracy result is calculated by the additive Holt Winters method when the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) indicators remain at the standard level, and its average qualification is also the lowest. Combining the actual and prediction values, the ranking of all ports accordingly by year during the past, current, and future time periods from 2011–2022 is obtained after calculating the final efficiency via the super-SBM model. The empirical result of the current and estimated efficiency denotes that Da Nang port logistics is always selected as the best port logistics company and maintained the first ranking with consistently high scores on the basis of the performance qualification. The empirical analysis result proposes the status quo of port logistics companies in Vietnam from the past to future to describe the amount of exchanging goods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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15 pages, 1959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Project Planning with Realistic Multi-Objective Consideration in Developing Sustainable Port

by Wei Wang, Jingjie Chen, Qi Liu and Zhaoxia Guo

Sustainability 2018, 10(7), 2385; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072385 - 09 Jul 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3354

Abstract

Implementing green projects is critical to achieve the green and sustainable development goal. This paper investigates a green project planning with the realistic consideration of multiple objectives including minimizing the total cost and maximizing the total emission reduction. The realistic multi-objective problem in [...] Read more.

Implementing green projects is critical to achieve the green and sustainable development goal. This paper investigates a green project planning with the realistic consideration of multiple objectives including minimizing the total cost and maximizing the total emission reduction. The realistic multi-objective problem in engineering optimization aims to find a best solution for real-world use instead of finding a set of Pareto-optimal solutions. To handle this problem, we develop a weight sets-based multi-objective evolutionary optimization approach to find the best solution for realistic use. The approach integrates a single-objective evolutionary optimization process, novel solution encoding and decoding heuristics, and a non-dominated sort technique. Based on real-world data from a seaport in China, experiments were conducted to validate the proposed optimization approach. Results show that the proposed approach can effectively solve the real-world multi-objective green project planning problem because the solution found by our approach is one of the Pareto optimal solutions generated by the NSGA-II. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in Shipping and Port Management, and Maritime Logistics)

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