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Volume 14
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J. Mar. Sci. Eng., Volume 14, Issue 5 (March-1 2026) – 114 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Climate change is a critical stressor for Mediterranean aquaculture. This study assesses climate-related risks along the Valencian coast (Spain) by analyzing sea surface temperature (SST) variability and predicting 10-year trends. Using ARIMA and Bayesian hierarchical models, the research reveals a consistent warming trend since the 1990s. While southern locations currently experience the highest temperatures, projections indicate that central and northern areas, such as Valencia and Sagunto, will warm more rapidly. These findings are essential for marine spatial planning, suggesting a precautionary approach to fish farm relocation and identifying potential climate refuges. The study highlights the significant influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) on regional thermal dynamics. View this paper
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17 pages, 5609 KB  
Article
Temporal and Spatial Variation in Sea Level Anomaly and Sea Surface Wind in the East China Sea
by Zefei Zhang, Shouchang Wu, Xuelin Ding, Ebenezer Otoo, Yongping Chen and Rupeng Du
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050519 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 433
Abstract
This study investigates the temporal and spatial variations in sea level anomaly (SLA) and sea surface wind in the East China Sea (ECS) from 1993 to 2021 using AVISO altimetry data and ERA5 reanalysis wind data. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and trend analyses [...] Read more.
This study investigates the temporal and spatial variations in sea level anomaly (SLA) and sea surface wind in the East China Sea (ECS) from 1993 to 2021 using AVISO altimetry data and ERA5 reanalysis wind data. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and trend analyses were applied to identify dominant modes and long-term changes. Results reveal pronounced seasonal SLA variability, with lower levels in winter/spring and higher levels in summer/autumn, strongly modulated by monsoon winds. The first EOF mode of SLA accounted for 52.73% of variance, showing basin-coherent seasonal fluctuations, while the second mode (7.79%) reflected contrasts between coastal and Kuroshio-influenced regions. The ECS experienced an average sea level rise of 3.77 mm/year, exceeding 6 mm/year along the Jiangsu and Zhejiang–Fujian coasts. Sea surface wind stress variability was greatest in the northern Taiwan Strait and southwest of the Ryukyu Islands, but decreased along the Zhejiang coast. Sea level anomalies (SLAs) in the East China Sea exhibit clear multi-scale coupling with the wind field. The seasonal SLA variability in the East China Sea is jointly modulated by local Ekman forcing due to wind stress, while also being potentially linked to the Kuroshio and open-ocean Rossby waves. These findings underscore the role of wind forcing in regional sea level changes and provide insight for coastal management under climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Oceanography)
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14 pages, 977 KB  
Review
Phototrophic Carbon Capture in Marine Algae: Comparative Efficiencies, Sequestration Dynamics, and Climate Implications
by Leonel Pereira
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050518 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 563
Abstract
Algae-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) systems are increasingly recognized as versatile climate solutions that combine rapid biological uptake with multiple pathways for durable sequestration. Macroalgae and microalgae offer comparative efficiencies that exceed many terrestrial options, while simultaneously contributing to food security, bioeconomic innovation, [...] Read more.
Algae-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) systems are increasingly recognized as versatile climate solutions that combine rapid biological uptake with multiple pathways for durable sequestration. Macroalgae and microalgae offer comparative efficiencies that exceed many terrestrial options, while simultaneously contributing to food security, bioeconomic innovation, and ocean stewardship. Yet significant challenges remain in ensuring permanence, developing robust remote monitoring, reporting, and verification (RMRV) frameworks, and integrating algae into carbon markets and policy regimes. Societal acceptance and ethical considerations, including equity, cultural heritage, and governance transparency, will be critical to legitimacy and scale. Future research must advance biological and technological innovation, refine sequestration pathways, and embed social sciences into deployment strategies. Taken together, algae-based systems represent a promising but complex component of the global portfolio of climate mitigation, requiring interdisciplinary collaboration to unlock their full potential and ensure that climate benefits are coupled with broader societal gains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Combining Field Observations and Satellite Remote Sensing to Monitor Marine Ecosystem Dynamics)
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21 pages, 3536 KB  
Article
Influence of Hydrodynamic Regime on Living Coccolithophores in the Cretan Sea and South Cretan Area (Eastern Mediterranean)
by Margarita D. Dimiza, Panagiota Syriopoulou, Elisavet Skampa, Constantine Parinos, Dimitris Velaoras, Pascal Conan, Mireille Pujo-Pay, Angela Maria Oviedo, Xavier Durrieu de Madron, Alexandra Gogou and Maria V. Triantaphyllou
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050517 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 417
Abstract
Coccolithophores are important components of marine phytoplankton and are found to be useful indicators of the environmental conditions of the upper water column. In this study, we investigate coccolithophore abundance and composition in the Cretan Sea and South Cretan area (Eastern Mediterranean), and [...] Read more.
Coccolithophores are important components of marine phytoplankton and are found to be useful indicators of the environmental conditions of the upper water column. In this study, we investigate coccolithophore abundance and composition in the Cretan Sea and South Cretan area (Eastern Mediterranean), and their relation to prevailing hydrodynamic conditions during late February/early March 2019. Results showed that total coccolithophore abundance ranged from 26.3 × 102 to 258.8 × 102 coccospheres L−1, averaging at 135.8 × 102 coccospheres L−1. Among the 45 identified species, the opportunistic Emiliania huxleyi was the most dominant, representing 89% of the coccolithophore assemblage. In the Cretan Sea, this species showed relatively homogeneous abundances throughout the upper 100 m depth of the water column; however, towards the Rhodes Cyclone, where a weak stratification had started, and the mixed layer was relatively shallow, higher abundances were found at depths shallower than 50 m. Syracosphaera molischii co-occurred with Emiliania huxleyi, whereas Rhabdosphaera clavigera, Syracosphaera pulchra, and Syracosphaera mediterranea were also present but in lower abundances, reflecting the influence of warm, salty Levantine Surface Water. Based on the morphological analysis, Emiliania huxleyi was mostly represented by heavily calcified forms consistent with winter-spring patterns in the Aegean Sea. The observation of signs of dissolution with high relative abundances of etched/corroded coccospheres indicates the sensitivity of Emiliania huxleyi to the prevailing circulation pattern during the 2019 mixing event within the Rhodes gyre. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geological Oceanography)
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37 pages, 41641 KB  
Article
Bumpless Multi-Mode Control Allocation for Over-Actuated AUV Docking
by Peiyan Gao, Yiping Li, Gaopeng Xu, Yuexing Zhang, Junbao Zeng, Yiqun Wang and Shuo Li
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050516 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 409
Abstract
This paper addresses the multi-phase homing and docking missions of over-actuated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), where switching among forward cruising, reverse braking, and hovering can induce actuator saturation, rate limit violations, and undesirable transients. We propose a unified framework that couples supervisory mode [...] Read more.
This paper addresses the multi-phase homing and docking missions of over-actuated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), where switching among forward cruising, reverse braking, and hovering can induce actuator saturation, rate limit violations, and undesirable transients. We propose a unified framework that couples supervisory mode management with mode-driven constrained control allocation solved by a warm-started sequential quadratic programming (SQP) routine. The controllable wrench is modeled by a mode-dependent differentiable map constructed from the actuator models, and the allocator enforces amplitude bounds and per-cycle increment limits while trading off wrench tracking and actuator usage through mode-scheduled weights. To mitigate switching transients, a continuous transition factor is introduced to interpolate the desired wrench and dominant cost weights, and an integrator alignment reset is applied at switching instants to keep the outer-loop proportional–integral–derivative (PID) output continuous. The allocator is further warm-started by projecting the previous solution onto the post-switch constraint box. The framework is integrated into the Mission-Oriented Operating Suite–Interval Programming (MOOS-IvP) autonomy middleware with adaptive line-of-sight (ALOS) guidance and adaptive PID motion control and is validated on the TS-100 AUV in water tank experiments. Comparative results against a PID-only baseline without control allocation and a variant without bumpless switching show reduced roll transients during the reverse-to-hover transition and improved hover-mode depth station keeping while maintaining feasible actuator commands under constraints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
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24 pages, 6248 KB  
Article
Structural Performance and Weight-Efficiency Trade-Offs of Bulb and Angle Stiffeners in Imperfection-Sensitive Plate Buckling and Collapse
by Myung-Su Yi, Da-Bin Jung and Joo-Shin Park
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050515 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 401
Abstract
This study presents a mechanics-based comparison of the buckling and ultimate strength behavior of stiffened plates reinforced with bulb-type and built-in angle stiffeners, with particular emphasis on the trade-off between structural performance and weight efficiency. Although these stiffener types are commonly treated as [...] Read more.
This study presents a mechanics-based comparison of the buckling and ultimate strength behavior of stiffened plates reinforced with bulb-type and built-in angle stiffeners, with particular emphasis on the trade-off between structural performance and weight efficiency. Although these stiffener types are commonly treated as equivalent when designed to provide the same sectional moment of inertia, their nonlinear collapse behavior under realistic loading conditions has not been sufficiently quantified. To address this gap, a two-stage finite element framework is employed, consisting of linear eigenvalue buckling analysis to identify imperfection-sensitive modes, followed by geometrically and materially nonlinear imperfection analysis (GMNIA) to capture post-buckling behavior and ultimate strength. High-fidelity three-dimensional solid models incorporating classification-society-based material properties are used to simulate axially compressed stiffened plates representative of jack-up rig Living Quarter structures. The results demonstrate that, while both stiffener types exhibit comparable elastic buckling resistance, their nonlinear responses differ in terms of stiffness degradation, stress redistribution, and collapse localization. Importantly, the angle stiffener achieves an ultimate strength comparable to that of the elastically equivalent bulb stiffener while requiring less material, thereby exhibiting superior weight efficiency. These findings indicate that elastic equivalence alone is insufficient for optimal stiffener selection and highlight the necessity of nonlinear, imperfection-sensitive assessment in the design of lightweight and high-performance marine structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Analysis of Ship and Offshore Structures)
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25 pages, 8612 KB  
Article
Effect of Wind-Driven Circulation on the Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Oxygen and Carbonate System Variables in the Mexican Tropical Pacific Region
by Asbel Itahi de la Cruz-Ruiz, Luis A. Soto-Mardones, Cecilia Chapa-Balcorta, Teresa Leticia Espinosa-Carreón, Claudia E. Aburto-Leiva, José Martín Hernández-Ayón, Luz de Lourdes Aurora Coronado-Álvarez, Víctor Hugo Martínez-Magaña, María Luisa Leal-Acosta and Aurélien Paulmier
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050514 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1095
Abstract
The Mexican Tropical Pacific (MTP) is a key component of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone, yet its carbonate system variability remains poorly constrained. This study examines wind-driven circulation effects on dissolved oxygen (DO) and the carbonate system —dissolved inorganic carbon [...] Read more.
The Mexican Tropical Pacific (MTP) is a key component of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone, yet its carbonate system variability remains poorly constrained. This study examines wind-driven circulation effects on dissolved oxygen (DO) and the carbonate system —dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (TA), total-scale pH (pHT), partial pressure of CO2 in seawater (pCO2w) and air–sea CO2 fluxes (FCO2)— in the Gulf of Tehuantepec (GT) and Tehuantepec Bowl (TB). Hydrographic data and discrete water samples were collected at 50 oceanographic stations during March 2020. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identifies wind-driven circulation as the primary control of biogeochemical variability. Tehuano wind events and mesoscale eddies promoted upwelling of low-oxygen (DO < 20 µmol kg−1) and high-DIC (>2200 µmol kg−1) waters to 50 m depth in the central GT, while downwelling conditions prevailed in the TB. Stoichiometric analysis revealed DIC-DO coupling (slope = −1.39). Overall, the MTP acted as CO2 source (FCO2 ranging from −1.92 to 24.11 mmol m−2 d−1), with enhanced emissions linked to eddy-induced upwelling. This study provides the first integrated characterization of the carbonate system across both the GT and TB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 10th Anniversary of the "Chemical Oceanography" Section)
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14 pages, 2339 KB  
Article
Analysis of Age and Growth of Diaphus gigas and Diaphus perspicillatus (Myctophidae) Based on Otolith Microstructure
by Yoan Nadela Okta and Bilin Liu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050513 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 359
Abstract
Lanternfishes (Myctophidae) dominate mesopelagic ecosystems and play a central role in pelagic food webs through their high biomass and diel vertical migration, yet detailed information on their age structure and growth dynamics remains limited in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. This study reconstructs age, [...] Read more.
Lanternfishes (Myctophidae) dominate mesopelagic ecosystems and play a central role in pelagic food webs through their high biomass and diel vertical migration, yet detailed information on their age structure and growth dynamics remains limited in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. This study reconstructs age, growth patterns, and life-history strategies of D. gigas and D. perspicillatus using sagittal otolith microstructure analysis. Specimens were collected during oceanographic surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, and individual ages were estimated by counting daily otolith growth increments. Somatic growth trajectories were evaluated using multiple nonlinear growth models, including the von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and Logistic functions, and growth dynamics were further assessed through derivative-based growth speed analyses. The results reveal pronounced interspecific differences in growth strategy and longevity. D. perspicillatus exhibited rapid early somatic growth, a compressed age structure, and an early approach to asymptotic length, indicating a short-lived life-history strategy characterized by early growth deceleration and high population turnover. In contrast, D. gigas showed faster early growth, prolonged somatic development, greater inter-individual variability, and substantially larger maximum body size, reflecting delayed maturation and extended lifespan. Otolith microstructural zonation clearly corresponded to larval, juvenile, and adult growth phases in both species. The predominance of younger age classes in the catch and interannual differences in size structure were primarily attributed to ontogenetic habitat shifts, cohort composition, and sampling availability rather than intrinsic changes in growth dynamics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine Ecology)
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29 pages, 2596 KB  
Article
Integrated Rescheduling for Vessels and Tugboats in One-Way Channel Ports Under Adverse Weather Conditions
by Shiyan Jia and Hongxing Zheng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050512 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 342
Abstract
To address the significant operational disruptions caused by inclement weather in maritime logistics, this study investigates the integrated rescheduling optimization of vessels and tugboats within one-way channel ports. The research aims to minimize total operational costs, including dispatching and delay penalties, by synchronizing [...] Read more.
To address the significant operational disruptions caused by inclement weather in maritime logistics, this study investigates the integrated rescheduling optimization of vessels and tugboats within one-way channel ports. The research aims to minimize total operational costs, including dispatching and delay penalties, by synchronizing vessel movements with tugboat service capabilities under uncertain conditions. Methodologically, a rolling horizon decision-making mechanism is proposed to accommodate dynamic operational scenarios driven by fluctuating weather. On this basis, an integrated rescheduling model is developed to address the compounded challenges of navigation rule changes, channel closures, vessel delays, and additional shifting tasks. The model explicitly incorporates critical constraints such as channel navigation protocols, tugboat availability, power capacity limits, and tidal windows for deep-draft vessels. To achieve efficient solution generation, an improved Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) algorithm is designed to effectively handle the problem’s complexity. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and the robustness of the algorithm in diverse disruption scenarios. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses reveal how channel closure duration, vessel delay intensities, and the volume of shifting tasks quantitatively influence rescheduling outcomes. This study contributes a novel synergistic optimization framework that enhances the operational resilience and decision-making capabilities of port authorities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Logistics: Shipping and Port Management)
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31 pages, 5691 KB  
Article
Integrating Crashworthiness into the Concept Design Phase of Tanker Structural Design Through Surrogate-Based Optimization
by Pero Prebeg, Jerolim Andrić, Smiljko Rudan and Šimun Sviličić
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050511 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 383
Abstract
A key limitation of conventional early-stage oil tanker structural design is that the accidental limit state performance is rarely included as an explicit design objective, even though major topology and arrangement decisions are taken before detailed nonlinear analyses become feasible. This paper proposes [...] Read more.
A key limitation of conventional early-stage oil tanker structural design is that the accidental limit state performance is rarely included as an explicit design objective, even though major topology and arrangement decisions are taken before detailed nonlinear analyses become feasible. This paper proposes a crashworthiness-driven structural design methodology for the concept design phase (CDP), in which crashworthiness is introduced as an explicit safety-related performance measure through surrogate modeling and used within a multi-objective optimization framework. Crashworthiness is represented by the internal energy absorption of a double-hull side structure under collision, which is obtained from a limited set of high-fidelity nonlinear simulations and approximated by response surface surrogate models to enable computationally efficient design-space exploration. The optimization framework considers structural weight and crashworthiness while enforcing rule-based adequacy constraints consistent with current classification practice, and it can be extended to additional safety-related measures. Application to an Aframax tanker case study demonstrates that Pareto-optimal solutions can be generated that improve the collision energy dissipation capability without disproportionate increases in structural weight at a stage where topology changes are still practical. The results confirm that crashworthiness-oriented criteria can be embedded within CDP design workflows in a manner compatible with established industrial practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ship Structural Design and Analysis)
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20 pages, 5217 KB  
Article
Dynamic Modeling and Control of Floating Wind Turbine Platforms with a Gyroscopic Stabilizer
by Ping Cheng, Tingyuan Zhang, Wenchuan Zhao and Decheng Wan
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050510 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
A gyroscopic stabilizer generates an anti-roll moment by regulating the precession angle of a high-speed rotor. By computing the precession-angle command in real time, the controller can effectively suppress roll motion. However, research on the application of gyroscopic stabilizers to floating wind turbines [...] Read more.
A gyroscopic stabilizer generates an anti-roll moment by regulating the precession angle of a high-speed rotor. By computing the precession-angle command in real time, the controller can effectively suppress roll motion. However, research on the application of gyroscopic stabilizers to floating wind turbines remains limited. In this study, the operating mechanism of a gyroscopic stabilizer is modeled, and frequency-domain stability analyses are conducted for the system dynamics both before and after the installation of the stabilizer. A pole-placement-based controller is designed to achieve active stabilization of wave-induced platform motions by adjusting the rotor precession angle. Based on wave spectrum analysis, numerical simulations are performed to compare system responses with and without the active controller under different sea conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed anti-roll control strategy exhibits robust performance and can increase the roll reduction rate by at least a factor of two across a range of sea states. In addition, the anti-roll effectiveness is influenced by rotor speed and environmental conditions, with higher reduction rates achieved at higher rotor speeds, larger wave heights, and longer wave periods. In addition, we adopt a dual-gyro configuration to cancel yaw-interference moments, and the proposed controller is feedback-based (platform motion only), which is suitable for retrofit applications without requiring wave-preview sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
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34 pages, 11321 KB  
Article
Mediterranean Marine Heatwaves: Atmospheric Drivers and Ocean Feedback
by Cadan Plasa, Nikolaos Skliris and Ligin Joseph
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050509 - 8 Mar 2026
Viewed by 492
Abstract
The influence of air–sea heat fluxes on the evolution of marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the Mediterranean was examined over the 1982–2024 summer periods. MHW detection was performed on detrended sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and the application of a minimum spatial coverage threshold of [...] Read more.
The influence of air–sea heat fluxes on the evolution of marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the Mediterranean was examined over the 1982–2024 summer periods. MHW detection was performed on detrended sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and the application of a minimum spatial coverage threshold of 15% of the Mediterranean Basin provided a catalogue of the most extreme MHW events. Analysis of composite surface flux anomalies shows that latent heat flux (LHF) anomalies dominate the contribution of the air–sea heat flux budget to MHW variability, with negative LHF anomalies before an event and positive LHF anomalies after an event. An alternative MHW detection method which defines MHW events from time series of the principal components (PCs) of MHW intensity was used. This method revealed distinct atmospheric patterns associated with the different phases of an MHW event. Before an MHW event, weakened winds reduce outgoing LHF, trapping heat within the ocean. After an MHW event, a steepening humidity gradient and strengthened winds increase outgoing LHF and heat release into the atmosphere. These results highlight the significant role that LHF plays in the interactions between MHW events and the atmosphere, and the contrasting contributions of wind speed and humidity gradient during MHW onset and decline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Oceanography)
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23 pages, 7910 KB  
Article
Energy-Harvesting Performance of Twin-Rotor Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines with Phase Interference Under Different Solidities
by Miankui Wu, Renwei Ji, Peng Dou, Chenghang Gao, Yuquan Zhang, Jianhua Zhang, Linfeng Chen and Emmanuel Fernandez-Rodriguez
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050508 - 8 Mar 2026
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 659
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the aerodynamic variation patterns of twin-rotor vertical-axis wind turbines (TR-VAWTs) considering phase interference under different solidities, and to reveal the interactive mechanism between solidity, phase interference, and aerodynamic loads of TR-VAWTs. This paper first establishes a phase interference [...] Read more.
This paper aims to investigate the aerodynamic variation patterns of twin-rotor vertical-axis wind turbines (TR-VAWTs) considering phase interference under different solidities, and to reveal the interactive mechanism between solidity, phase interference, and aerodynamic loads of TR-VAWTs. This paper first establishes a phase interference aerodynamic analysis model for TR-VAWTs based on two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. Secondly, experimental results are used to verify the accuracy of the numerical model. Finally, the variation patterns of aerodynamic forces and wake characteristics of TR-VAWTs under different parameters (solidity, initial phase angle) are explored. The results show that: (1) Each turbine of the side-by-side TR-VAWTs exhibits an increase in the energy utilization coefficient (CP) in comparison with a single rotor. (2) The phase angle exhibits similar influence patterns on the efficiency of TR-VAWTs with different solidities. As the phase angle varies within the range of 30° to 60°, the efficiencies of rotor 1 and rotor 2 under medium-to-high tip speed ratios are both improved, while within the range of 60° to 90°, the efficiencies of each rotor generally decrease. (3) When TR-VAWTs with different solidities are at intermediate phase angles (90° for two blades, 60° for three blades, and 45° for four blades), the efficiencies of each rotor are basically consistent, which is conducive to power transmission. (4) If the intermediate phase angle is adopted as the reference configuration, the pressure influence on the turbines is minimized, which can not only make the power output more balanced but also improve the wake characteristics to a certain extent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Engineering Hydrodynamics, 2nd Edition)
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81 pages, 28674 KB  
Article
Representation Learning for Maritime Vessel Behaviour: A Three-Stage Pipeline for Robust Trajectory Embeddings
by Ghassan Al-Falouji, Shang Gao, Zhixin Huang, Ben Biesenbach, Peer Kröger, Bernhard Sick and Sven Tomforde
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050507 - 8 Mar 2026
Viewed by 389
Abstract
The growing complexity of maritime navigation creates safety challenges that drive the shift toward autonomous systems. Maritime vessel behaviour modelling is critical for safe and efficient autonomous operations. Representation learning offers a systematic approach to learn feature embeddings encoding vessel behaviour for improved [...] Read more.
The growing complexity of maritime navigation creates safety challenges that drive the shift toward autonomous systems. Maritime vessel behaviour modelling is critical for safe and efficient autonomous operations. Representation learning offers a systematic approach to learn feature embeddings encoding vessel behaviour for improved situational awareness and decision-making. We introduce a three-stage representation learning pipeline evaluating six architectures on real-world AIS trajectories. Grouped Masked Autoencoder (GMAE)-Risk Extrapolation (REx) combines group-wise masked autoencoding at the semantic feature level with risk extrapolation regularisation, forcing encoders to learn cross-group dependencies between temporal, kinematic, spatial, and interaction features. DAE and EAE provide robust and uncertainty-aware baselines. Evaluation uses a dual-pipeline framework on two years of Kiel Fjord AIS data (176,787 trajectories, 527,225 segments). Pipeline 1 applies three-stage representation learning using vessel-type classification as encoder selection probe. GMAE-REx achieves 86.03% validation accuracy, outperforming DAE (85.63%), EAE (85.56%), and baselines Transformer (84.93%), TCN (76.27%), LiST (85.12%). Pipeline 2 applies unsupervised clustering to discover intrinsic behavioural structure. Learnt representations consistently outperform expert features on DBCV, conductance, and modularity metrics, organising trajectories by operational context rather than vessel type. This behaviour-oriented organisation enables cross-vessel knowledge transfer for autonomous navigation, VTS monitoring, and safety analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Solutions for Marine Operations)
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14 pages, 3656 KB  
Article
Quantitative Geometric Properties of Concrete Armour Unit Hexacone
by Yangwoo Lee, Hyoseob Kim and Hojun Yoo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050506 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 390
Abstract
Physical properties are important for the selection of concrete armour units (CAUs) for a specific site. Geometric properties are closely linked to physical properties. Here, new concepts in geometric properties that may be related to structural stability are proposed. Void ratio, overall slenderness, [...] Read more.
Physical properties are important for the selection of concrete armour units (CAUs) for a specific site. Geometric properties are closely linked to physical properties. Here, new concepts in geometric properties that may be related to structural stability are proposed. Void ratio, overall slenderness, member slenderness, mass distribution with the distance from the gravity centre, and moment of inertia with respect to the gravity centre or pivot line are measurable, and we focus on geometric properties of several CAU structures. All CAUs have the same mass of 32 t. Hexacone has exceptionally high mass density near the leg tips, which helps to increase the moment of inertia. The moment of inertia of a Hexacone with respect to the horizontal pivot axis at the bottom line of the units is also the largest of the four tested. Hexacone is the most resistant to external torques when standing on its own. There is a possibility that a layer of Hexacones could be the most stable of the four types of units, especially when Hexacones are randomly placed or regularly placed with mixed vertical and horizontal columns. Future development of CAUs will aim to achieve a larger moment of inertia, raising the interlocking level and strengthening member endurance at the same time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Strength, Fatigue, and Vibration in Marine Structures)
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24 pages, 3827 KB  
Article
An Environmental Impact Analysis of the Transition to Electric-Propulsion Ships Toward Net-Zero Shipping: A Case Study of Vessels Operated by a Korean Shipping Company
by Chybyung Park
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050505 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 547
Abstract
Decarbonizing ocean-going shipping requires decision-grade environmental evidence for propulsion transitions, yet conventional LCA relies on static inventories that inadequately represent dynamic operations and route-dependent renewable generation. This study evaluates well-to-wake (WtW) Global Warming Potential (GWP) for two large container ships operated by a [...] Read more.
Decarbonizing ocean-going shipping requires decision-grade environmental evidence for propulsion transitions, yet conventional LCA relies on static inventories that inadequately represent dynamic operations and route-dependent renewable generation. This study evaluates well-to-wake (WtW) Global Warming Potential (GWP) for two large container ships operated by a Korean company under four scenarios: conventional diesel main engine, diesel–electric with onboard generator, full battery-electric supplied by shore electricity from the Republic of Korea grid, and battery-electric with a route-resolved solar PV system. A Live-LCA (LLCA) framework couples LCI data with MATLAB/Simulink power and propulsion modeling driven by actual operating profiles and route environmental conditions to generate operational inventories for impact calculation. Diesel–electric operation increases annual WtW GWP by over 26% for both ships versus the baseline of a conventional diesel main engine, whereas shore-electric battery operation is able to reduce WtW GWP by around 40% versus diesel–electric. With limited PV installation, additional reductions are marginal. Depending on electricity profile, it can increase battery-electric GHG emissions by approximately 27%, highlighting sensitivity to electricity evolution. Overall, electric propulsion delivers climate benefits only when paired with low-carbon electricity, and LLCA enables operationally and route-grounded LCA for large container ships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Energy with Advanced Propulsion Systems for Net-Zero Shipping)
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14 pages, 1566 KB  
Article
Field-Level Uncertainty Quantification for AI-Based Ship Hull Surface Pressure Prediction
by Jeongbeom Seo and Inwon Lee
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050504 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 532
Abstract
This study investigates uncertainty quantification for field-level ship hull surface pressure predictions using a U-Net-based data-driven model. A speed-conditioned U-Net is trained on a large CFD dataset covering multiple ship types and velocity conditions to predict pressure distributions on hull surfaces. The model [...] Read more.
This study investigates uncertainty quantification for field-level ship hull surface pressure predictions using a U-Net-based data-driven model. A speed-conditioned U-Net is trained on a large CFD dataset covering multiple ship types and velocity conditions to predict pressure distributions on hull surfaces. The model outputs the mean pressure and log-variance at each grid location using a negative log-likelihood loss, allowing aleatoric uncertainty to be estimated, while epistemic uncertainty is quantified by a deep ensemble of independently trained models. The reliability and calibration of the predicted confidence intervals are evaluated at the field level. The results show that calibration stabilizes as ensemble size increases, and coverage slightly exceeds nominal confidence levels. Uncertainty decomposition indicates that aleatoric uncertainty dominates and is insensitive to ensemble size, while epistemic uncertainty primarily affects calibration. Elevated uncertainty is consistently observed near free-surface regions around the bow and stern, reflecting increased prediction difficulty. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of deep-ensemble-based uncertainty quantification for CFD-driven pressure field prediction models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI-Enhanced Dynamics and Reliability Analysis of Marine Structures)
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36 pages, 9948 KB  
Article
Revisiting the MV Estonia Accident Using Numerical Simulations with a Statistical Approach
by Shinwoong Kim and Petri Valanto
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050503 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 477
Abstract
The loss of the MV Estonia has been investigated by various organizations since the accident in September 1994. The root cause of the accident has been assumed to be known and the consequent sinking process well established. However, in September 2020, a new [...] Read more.
The loss of the MV Estonia has been investigated by various organizations since the accident in September 1994. The root cause of the accident has been assumed to be known and the consequent sinking process well established. However, in September 2020, a new video recording by an underwater ROV was published, showing a new, previously unknown, penetrating damage on the starboard side of the MV Estonia wreck lying on the seabed. Based on this new evidence, the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (ESIB) initiated a preliminary assessment of the new information on the MV Estonia accident. Whether the New Side Damage (NSD) on the starboard side was already present while the MV Estonia was afloat on the surface, or whether it resulted from the collision of the sinking vessel with the seabed somewhat later, is an important issue needing clarification: In the first case, the validity of the conclusions on the root cause of the accident presented in the previous studies could prove premature. One of the goals of the present investigation by the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) is to shed light on this question: The results of the numerical simulations of the sinking process carried out for various damage configurations in seaway using not only single simulations, but also a statistical approach are presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Studies in Ship Fluid Mechanics)
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17 pages, 9346 KB  
Article
Morphometry of Submarine Mass Transport Deposits: Insights from the Taranto Landslide Complex (North Ionian Sea, Southern Italy)
by Agostino Meo and Maria Rosaria Senatore
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050502 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 338
Abstract
The Taranto Landslide Complex (TLC) is a multi-episode submarine mass-failure system developed along the Apulian continental margin (Gulf of Taranto, northern Ionian Sea) between ~200 and ~900 m water depth. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry and chirp seismostratigraphy were integrated to map five partially overlapping [...] Read more.
The Taranto Landslide Complex (TLC) is a multi-episode submarine mass-failure system developed along the Apulian continental margin (Gulf of Taranto, northern Ionian Sea) between ~200 and ~900 m water depth. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry and chirp seismostratigraphy were integrated to map five partially overlapping Quaternary mass transport deposits (MTD1–MTD5) and quantify their geometry, conservative volumes, and first-order kinematics. Consistent morphometric parameters indicate mobilities (H/L) and angles of reach typical of continental-slope failures, whereas conservative volumes range between ~0.02–0.35 km3. A depth-averaged sliding-block approach yields bounds on peak velocity and travel time compatible with rapid emplacement. Cross-cutting relationships and post-failure sediment drapes constrain two principal phases of slope instability, expressed as time windows rather than fixed ages. This study develops a framework that integrates uniform morphometric, volumetric, and kinematic features with seismostratigraphy to reconstruct the evolution and relative mobility of multi-episode submarine landslide complexes. The proposed workflow provides a transferable framework for preliminary geohazard assessment on continental margins where repeated slope failure interacts with tectonic and sedimentary forcing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geological Oceanography)
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27 pages, 8070 KB  
Article
Active Sonar Target Detection in Low-SIR Complex Marine Environments via Controllable Simulation and Spatiotemporal Energy Structure Feature Perception
by Nan Lu, Yongmeng Zhu, Xionghui Li, Zailei Luo and Tongsheng Shen
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050501 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 602
Abstract
This paper addresses the critical challenge of detecting weak, small targets in sonar intensity images for linear-array active sonar, where target signatures are not only obscured by low signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) but also strongly resemble structural interference arising from beamforming processing. We propose [...] Read more.
This paper addresses the critical challenge of detecting weak, small targets in sonar intensity images for linear-array active sonar, where target signatures are not only obscured by low signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) but also strongly resemble structural interference arising from beamforming processing. We propose an end-to-end detection method that integrates controllable simulation with spatiotemporal structure-aware modeling. First, a physics-informed simulation system is constructed, centered on the Bellhop ray-tracing model. It incorporates multiple environmental effects, including multi-highlight targets, spectrally shaped noise, range-dependent reverberation, discrete scatterers, multipath propagation, and platform perturbations. Through closed-loop SIR calibration and point spread function (PSF)-constrained automatic annotation, a high-fidelity dataset with traceable parameters is generated. Second, the YOLOv8-Mamba-P2 detection network is designed. It introduces gated long-range spatial mixing modules (inspired by Mamba) to model global context and enhance the ability to discriminate interference structures, and extends a P2 small-scale detection branch to improve the perception and localization capabilities for weak targets. This enables precise target detection within complex backgrounds. Experimental results demonstrate the algorithm’s superior performance in low-SIR and strong reverberation conditions, achieving significant improvements in recall and localization accuracy while maintaining real-time inference efficiency, offering a promising framework for sonar target detection under the simulated conditions considered, with potential applicability to complex marine environments pending further real-world validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
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11 pages, 1878 KB  
Article
Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations of Deep-Sea Fish in the East Sea, Korea: A Human Health Risk Assessment
by Minchul Yoon, Woo Seok Choi, Mi Ra Jo, Jeong-Ho Park, Jae-Hyeong Yang, Kwang Soo Ha, Jong Soo Mok and Ka Jeong Lee
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050500 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 449
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in deep-sea ecosystems is of increasing concern due to its strong bioaccumulation potential and implications for seafood safety. However, depth-resolved information on Hg speciation and tissue-specific accumulation in deep-sea fish remains limited, particularly in semi-enclosed marginal seas such as the [...] Read more.
Mercury (Hg) contamination in deep-sea ecosystems is of increasing concern due to its strong bioaccumulation potential and implications for seafood safety. However, depth-resolved information on Hg speciation and tissue-specific accumulation in deep-sea fish remains limited, particularly in semi-enclosed marginal seas such as the East Sea of Korea. In this study, total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were quantified in multiple tissues (muscle, liver, gill, bone, and skin) of deep-sea fish collected across a pronounced depth gradient (100–1300 m). Hg concentrations increased significantly with sampling depth (p < 0.05), indicating depth-driven enrichment processes. MeHg accounted for 61.8–87.4% of THg and predominated in muscle and liver, highlighting its toxicological relevance. Human health risk assessment based on Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) suggested that average exposure levels remained below international safety thresholds. Nevertheless, several deep-sea taxa (e.g., Lycodes tanakae and Malacocottus gibber) approached cautionary levels under high-consumption scenarios. These findings demonstrate that habitat depth is a key ecological driver of Hg accumulation in deep-sea fish and underscore the importance of depth-resolved, species-specific monitoring for effective seafood safety management as deep-sea fisheries expand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine Pollution)
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16 pages, 4129 KB  
Article
A Distributed Maritime Target Classification Method Based on Broad Learning and MobilityFirst
by Zhenqi Wang, Fei Teng, Shilong Liu, Liang-En Yuan and Rui Wang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050499 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 295
Abstract
Marine target classification is a key technology for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to perform ocean surveillance. Traditional maritime target classification methods require improvements in both accuracy and processing speed when handling classification tasks. In this paper, a distributed maritime target classification (DMTC) method [...] Read more.
Marine target classification is a key technology for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to perform ocean surveillance. Traditional maritime target classification methods require improvements in both accuracy and processing speed when handling classification tasks. In this paper, a distributed maritime target classification (DMTC) method based on broad learning and MobilityFirst is proposed. Firstly, a multi-model collaborative classification and fusion framework is proposed to achieve feature consistency fusion. Secondly, to enhance the security and privacy of communication in autonomous surface vehicles, the MobilityFirst approach is employed to improve information complementarity among multiple models within the distributed framework. Finally, the broad learning system, as the model’s classification layer, reduces the training complexity. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that this proposed approach surpasses single-model and distributed methods in accuracy, F1 score, and the area under the precision–recall curve (AUPR). This approach offers a clear advantage in multi-ship classification tasks while simultaneously enhancing the model’s generalization capability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unmanned Marine Vehicles: Perception, Planning, Control and Swarm—2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 4680 KB  
Article
Hierarchical Thermocline-Aware Navigation for Underwater Gliders via Multi-Objective Path Planning and Reinforcement Learning
by Zizhao Song, Mingsong Bao and Tingting Guo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050498 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
Navigation planning and execution for underwater gliders operating in thermocline-affected environments is challenging due to the coupled influence of energy constraints, spatially distributed environmental disturbances, and limited control authority. Spatially varying thermocline structures act as structured environmental disturbances that degrade motion efficiency and [...] Read more.
Navigation planning and execution for underwater gliders operating in thermocline-affected environments is challenging due to the coupled influence of energy constraints, spatially distributed environmental disturbances, and limited control authority. Spatially varying thermocline structures act as structured environmental disturbances that degrade motion efficiency and tracking accuracy, and therefore must be explicitly considered in both path planning and control design. This paper proposes a hierarchical control-oriented decision framework for underwater glider navigation in thermocline regions. At the planning layer, a thermocline-aware multi-objective optimization problem is formulated to regulate the trade-off between navigation efficiency and cumulative environmental disturbance, characterized by total path length and cumulative thermocline exposure, respectively. A multi-objective artificial bee colony (MOABC) algorithm is employed to generate a set of Pareto-optimal reference trajectories that explicitly reveal this trade-off. At the execution layer, pitch angle regulation is formulated as a stochastic tracking control problem under environmental uncertainty. A Markov Decision Process (MDP) is constructed to model the coupled effects of pitch control on energy consumption and trajectory deviation, and a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm is adopted to synthesize a feedback control policy for adaptive pitch regulation during path execution. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed framework effectively reduces cumulative thermocline exposure and overall energy consumption while maintaining improved trajectory consistency compared with representative benchmark methods. These results indicate that integrating multi-objective planning with learning-based control provides an effective control-oriented solution for constrained underwater glider navigation in thermally stratified environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
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27 pages, 3460 KB  
Article
Joint Quay Crane and Automated Guided Vehicle Scheduling Optimization in Automated Container Terminals Considering Spare Battery Constraints
by Zhen Yang, Rui Zhao, Yifan Shen and Xiong Zhong
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050497 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 519
Abstract
With the expansion of automated container terminals (ACTs), joint scheduling among multiple types of equipment has become a critical factor affecting operational efficiency. This study investigates a joint scheduling optimization problem of quay cranes (QCs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) by considering AGV [...] Read more.
With the expansion of automated container terminals (ACTs), joint scheduling among multiple types of equipment has become a critical factor affecting operational efficiency. This study investigates a joint scheduling optimization problem of quay cranes (QCs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) by considering AGV battery swapping strategies under spare battery constraints. With the objective of minimizing the final task completion time of AGVs, a mixed-integer programming model is formulated that simultaneously accounts for task assignment, operation sequencing, battery swapping thresholds, spare battery quantity, and mutual waiting times between AGVs and QCs. To solve this problem efficiently, a hill-climbing genetic algorithm (HC-GA) is proposed. Numerical experiments under different task scales show that HC-GA outperforms the genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA), Q-learning, and the Q-learning-based genetic algorithm (Q-GA) in key indicators. In addition, the experimental results show that a proper configuration of AGVs can improve scheduling coordination and enhance the energy utilization efficiency of AGVs. The number of spare batteries and the threshold have significant impacts on overall system performance. When both operational efficiency and equipment utilization are considered, appropriately configuring the number of spare batteries and the threshold can effectively enhance the operational efficiency of ACTs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Coastal Engineering)
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25 pages, 21501 KB  
Article
A Deep Learning-Integrated Framework for Operational Rip Current Warning
by Laurence Zsu-Hsin Chuang, Meihuei Chen and Jenn-Jier James Lien
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050496 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 583
Abstract
Rip currents pose a serious maritime safety hazard, as they can quickly carry swimmers away from the shore, often leading to drownings caused by panic. Traditional beach flags and signs often fall short due to the complexities involved in issuing real-time warnings. In [...] Read more.
Rip currents pose a serious maritime safety hazard, as they can quickly carry swimmers away from the shore, often leading to drownings caused by panic. Traditional beach flags and signs often fall short due to the complexities involved in issuing real-time warnings. In this study, a framework for rip current warning based on deep learning was introduced and evaluated. The framework consists of automated object detection, adaptive time-averaged image generation, and expert validation protocols. The YOLOv4 deep learning model was trained and evaluated using three distinct datasets derived from two primary sources: a publicly available dataset sourced from peer-reviewed literature and a custom-built dataset compiled for this study. The results indicate that the models performed effectively, even under challenging environmental conditions, such as fluctuating lighting, camera motion, and varying wave dynamics. A significant novelty of this framework is the adaptable time-averaging feature, which filters out potential false positives generated by the deep learning model. This feature also allows for rapid detection in emergency situations while identifying persistent rip channel patterns for long-term risk assessments. Furthermore, the rip current alerts are not solely activated by automated results. Rather, they are contingent on the verification of dangerous conditions by trained personnel, such as lifeguards or beach management officers. The results of implementing a pilot version of this framework demonstrate its practical viability for real-world deployment, marking a significant advancement in transitioning deep learning-based rip current detection from controlled environments to practical, real-time warning systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence and Its Application in Ocean Engineering)
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24 pages, 41111 KB  
Article
Joint Arctic Sea Ice Forecasting Based on Graph-Structured Spatial Modeling and Temporal Transformers
by Bowen Liu, Caiping Xi, Yukai Ma, Rui Zhai, Ting Ma and Fan Yan
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050495 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 438
Abstract
Rapid changes in Arctic sea ice exert significant impacts on regional climate feedbacks and high-latitude maritime activities, increasing the demand for accurate short-term forecasting of key sea ice variables. This study proposes a GraphTransformer-based framework for joint forecasting of sea ice thickness (SIT) [...] Read more.
Rapid changes in Arctic sea ice exert significant impacts on regional climate feedbacks and high-latitude maritime activities, increasing the demand for accurate short-term forecasting of key sea ice variables. This study proposes a GraphTransformer-based framework for joint forecasting of sea ice thickness (SIT) and sea ice concentration (SIC), designed to address their strong spatiotemporal coupling under irregular Arctic Ocean geometries. A static spatial graph is constructed over effective Arctic marine grid cells, where neighborhood aggregation is applied at each time step to explicitly encode spatial correlations. A shared-parameter temporal Transformer is subsequently employed to model node-level long-range temporal dependencies and to perform direct multi-step forecasting. The model generates 14-day daily forecasts of SIT and SIC in a single forward pass. Experiments are conducted using multi-source daily data spanning from 1 January 2019 to 15 May 2025, with evaluation restricted to valid marine grid nodes. Results indicate that the proposed GraphTransformer achieves either the best or second-best performance among the compared models in multi-step forecasting accuracy. Ablation experiments further confirm the critical role of graph-based spatial encoding in enhancing spatial coherence and mitigating error propagation. Full article
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20 pages, 5157 KB  
Article
Numerical Investigation on the Static Lateral Bearing Capacity and Failure Mechanism of Pile–Bucket Foundation
by Mohamed A. Frah, Meijuan Xu, Lichen Li, Wenbing Wu, Maha A. Abusogi, Tasneem Idris, Jingliang Ye, Chunbin Wan and Ruqin Luo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050494 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 485
Abstract
The pile–bucket foundation, comprising a bucket attached to a single pile, represents an innovative offshore solution for supporting wind turbines. Previous studies on laterally loaded foundations have primarily focused on single piles and pile–bucket systems; however, the effects of bucket size and loading [...] Read more.
The pile–bucket foundation, comprising a bucket attached to a single pile, represents an innovative offshore solution for supporting wind turbines. Previous studies on laterally loaded foundations have primarily focused on single piles and pile–bucket systems; however, the effects of bucket size and loading eccentricity on lateral capacity and soil failure mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the lateral performance of pile–bucket foundations in silty sand under static loading conditions. Seven three-dimensional numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the influence of bucket diameter, embedment depth, and loading eccentricity. Results indicate that pile–bucket foundations achieve 37–60% higher lateral capacity than single piles and 3–4 times the capacity of standalone buckets. Increasing bucket diameter produces more significant improvements than increasing embedment depth, whereas higher loading eccentricity reduces lateral capacity, ranging from an 8% increase to a 10% decrease relative to a single pile. Increases in loading eccentricity, bucket diameter, and embedment depth shift the rotation center upward by approximately 3–9%, compared with a single pile. At the mudline, the bucket resists up to 75% of the lateral load, while the pile carries up to 92% of the moment. Failure mechanisms are dominated by excessive rotation, including wedge-type failure near the mudline and deep rotational soil flow. Increasing bucket diameter or embedment depth raises bending moments by 5–9%, while higher eccentricity amplifies them by 32–50%. A modified analytical formulation incorporating a correction factor of 1.16 improves the prediction of the rotation center position. These findings provide quantitative guidance for the design and optimization of pile–bucket foundations supporting offshore wind turbines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Offshore Foundations and Anchoring Systems)
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22 pages, 1311 KB  
Systematic Review
Simulation and Predictive Environmental Modeling for Marine Forecasting: A Systematic Review
by Annamaria Souri and Angelika Kokkinaki
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050493 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 748
Abstract
Coastal and marine systems are governed by fragile water-quality dynamics, where disturbances can trigger harmful algal blooms with significant ecological and societal consequences. These pressures have intensified interest in forecasting systems that can anticipate bloom development and support environmental management. This study presents [...] Read more.
Coastal and marine systems are governed by fragile water-quality dynamics, where disturbances can trigger harmful algal blooms with significant ecological and societal consequences. These pressures have intensified interest in forecasting systems that can anticipate bloom development and support environmental management. This study presents a systematic review of simulation-based and predictive environmental modeling approaches used for marine forecasting of water quality and harmful algal bloom phenomena. Following PRISMA guidelines, 11,185 records were identified, 127 articles were screened in full text for eligibility, and 40 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included and synthesized using a structured extraction framework capturing modeling paradigms, forecast targets, data inputs, spatial and temporal scope, validation practices, operational context, and reported limitations. The reviewed literature indicates the dominance of predictive and hybrid modeling approaches, with forecasting efforts primarily focused on coastal systems and short-term applications. Harmful algal blooms and chlorophyll-a emerge as dominant forecast targets, commonly supported by satellite observations, in situ measurements, and environmental forcing variables. Despite substantial methodological advances, persistent challenges related to data availability and quality, validation rigor, system integration, and operational deployment remain evident across modeling paradigms. Overall, the findings suggest that while marine forecasting models have become increasingly sophisticated, their translation into reliable and operational systems remains uneven, highlighting the need for closer alignment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine Environmental Science)
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14 pages, 3902 KB  
Article
Near-Surface Responses Under Wind Forcing: Lagrangian ADCP Observations
by Jun Myoung Choi and Young Ho Kim
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050492 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 329
Abstract
Wind-driven shear and vertical mixing in the upper meter of the ocean strongly regulate near-surface circulation and buoyant tracer transport, yet direct field observations immediately beneath the air–sea interface remain scarce. We present Lagrangian observations, equipped with an upward-looking Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler [...] Read more.
Wind-driven shear and vertical mixing in the upper meter of the ocean strongly regulate near-surface circulation and buoyant tracer transport, yet direct field observations immediately beneath the air–sea interface remain scarce. We present Lagrangian observations, equipped with an upward-looking Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), collected during 5–7 April 2022 in the Jeju Strait under wind stresses of 0.0006–0.19 Pa. Near-surface shear and turbulence metrics were resolved within the top surface layer (TSL), and a response-time analysis showed that upper-layer shear responded most promptly to wind variability, whereas deeper-layer shear and sea-state metrics adjusted more slowly. Wave-period variability exhibited the weakest coupling, indicating additional nonlocal influences. Reynolds-stress estimates showed that the along-wind momentum flux was predominantly negative, indicating net downward transfer of downwind momentum, while cross-direction fluxes were smaller on average and frequently reversed sign, consistent with intermittent lateral transfers associated with evolving wave–current interactions. Using an eddy-viscosity framework, we derived stress-based exponential-saturation parameterizations for depth-averaged shear and vertical diffusivity, with the diffusivity magnitude treated as sensitive to the assumed turbulent Prandtl number. The relationships are intended for event-scale conditions within the observed forcing range and provide field-constrained, implementation-ready formulations for near-surface transport and mixing models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Oceanography)
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12 pages, 2465 KB  
Article
Strike-Slip Activity of the Tinjar–West Baram Fault in the Southern South China Sea: Implications for Sedimentation in the Zengmu Basin and Hydrocarbon System
by Kunsheng Qiang and Guangxue Zhang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050491 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 381
Abstract
The Tinjar–West Baram Fault in the southern South China Sea is a major NW-trending strike-slip fault that has remained tectonically active since the Oligocene. It forms a key structural boundary between the Zengmu, Beikang, and Nansha Trough basins. Multi-phase strike-slip movements have strongly [...] Read more.
The Tinjar–West Baram Fault in the southern South China Sea is a major NW-trending strike-slip fault that has remained tectonically active since the Oligocene. It forms a key structural boundary between the Zengmu, Beikang, and Nansha Trough basins. Multi-phase strike-slip movements have strongly controlled sediment provenance dispersal pathways, and reservoir development in the Zengmu Basin, yet the sedimentary response to these tectonic processes remains poorly understood. This study integrates 2D seismic profiles to analyze the fault geometry, kinematics, and impact on deep-water sedimentary systems. Results indicate that Oligocene right-lateral motion directed sediment supply from the southwest, mainly sourced from Kalimantan, forming fluvial–deltaic systems with depocenters in the southern basin. Since the Late Miocene, a transition to left-lateral motion reoriented sediment provenance toward the southeast, leading to delta-front complexes and northward migration of depocenters. Strike-slip activity deformation enhanced rock fragmentation and sediment supply, producing fan delta, fluvial, and shallow lacustrine facies near the fault. Associated uplift and subsidence induced relative sea-level fluctuations, resulting in alternating transgressive–regressive sequences. From the Late Eocene to Miocene, the basin evolved from a land–sea transitional system to a deltaic–carbonate complex controlled by the paleo-Sunda River. During the Pliocene–Quaternary, sedimentation was dominated by shallow-marine shelf and semi-deep-marine deposits. Fault-related fracturing significantly enhanced porosity and permeability, creating favorable conditions for hydrocarbon migration and entrapment in both sandstone and carbonate reservoirs. These findings demonstrate a strong coupling between strike-slip fault activity and sedimentary system evolution, providing important insights into sedimentary processes and hydrocarbon potential in strike-slip fault-bounded basins globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development)
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15 pages, 4799 KB  
Article
The USGS Rotating X-Ray Computed Tomography (RXCT) Coral-Core Archive: Scope, Access, and Standardization
by Ferdinand K. J. Oberle, Lauren T. Toth, Nancy G. Prouty, Brooke Santos, Jessica A. Jacobs, Sierra Bloomer, Kian Bagheri, Breanna N. Williams, Jason S. Padgett, Anastasios Stathakopoulos and SeanPaul La Selle
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(5), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14050490 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 634
Abstract
We announce the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Rotating X-ray Computed Tomography (RXCT) Coral-Core Archive, a digital resource derived from ~360 coral reef cores curated at the USGS Pacific and St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Centers. The archive delivers calibrated 3-dimensional image volumes [...] Read more.
We announce the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Rotating X-ray Computed Tomography (RXCT) Coral-Core Archive, a digital resource derived from ~360 coral reef cores curated at the USGS Pacific and St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Centers. The archive delivers calibrated 3-dimensional image volumes that enable reproducible values of skeletal density, linear extension, and calcification from decadal- to centennial-scale records of coral growth and bioerosion. Cross-study comparability within the archive is supported by a unified RXCT workflow that minimizes imaging artifacts. This includes rejecting image-intensity–density calibrations with r2 < 0.95, back-calculating standard densities to verify a ±10% target precision, and confirming that band-averaged density values fall within published species- and site-specific ranges. Our release of data under FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles is important given global coral reef decline and the rarity of physical coral archives. Calibrated imagery and scan metadata are distributed through CoralCache/CoralCT for analysis (DOI: 10.5194/essd-2025-598), while core locations and collection metadata are published through the USGS Geologic Core and Sample Database (DOI: 10.5066/F7319TR3) with links to CT imagery in a USGS ScienceBase repository (DOI: 10.5066/P139Y9H4). This archive provides a powerful dataset for evaluating environmental controls on coral growth, establishing restoration baselines, and improving coastal hazard assessments in the face of global coral reef declines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coral Reefs in a Changing World: Disturbance, Recovery, and Resilience)
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