Future Maritime Transport: Trends and Solutions

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2024 | Viewed by 10239

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
Interests: port management; supply chain management; freight transport; maritime transport; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: maritime transport and safety; sustainability; shipping management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the maritime transport system is the main conduit of international trade. However, due to the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, advancements in digital technologies and measures related to sustainable shipping, the maritime industry is facing significant challenges. The industry often needs to balance environmental issues and technological changes with economic concerns. In this context, this Special Issue aims to compile current theoretical and applied research on efficient, safe and sustainable maritime transport amid recent trends in the industry. This Special Issue is an excellent platform to discuss the latest research applicable to the maritime industry and to present up-to-date and relevant solutions or applications relating to, but not limited to:

  • Maritime logistics;
  • Port management;
  • Maritime cybersecurity;
  • Sustainable Maritime transport;
  • Green shipping;
  • Emissions control;
  • Data analytics;
  • Blockchain applications;
  • Digital technologies;
  • Disruptive technologies.

The Special Issue shall present high-quality and cutting-edge research and applications for the industry, facilitating global trade as a result. 

Dr. Hui Shan Loh
Dr. Qingji Zhou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • maritime transport
  • maritime logistics
  • sustainability
  • technology
  • digital transformation
  • resilient
  • efficiency
  • cybersecurity

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Analysis of Performance Efficiency for the Container Terminals in China and Korea
by Jin Zhang, Shuyin Deng, Yulseong Kim and Xuebin Zheng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(9), 1568; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12091568 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 785
Abstract
In this study, the static and dynamic performance efficiencies of container terminals are analyzed and compared for the main container terminals in China and Korea. The static performance efficiency is calculated using the Super-SBM model based on slack variables at the micro-level. An [...] Read more.
In this study, the static and dynamic performance efficiencies of container terminals are analyzed and compared for the main container terminals in China and Korea. The static performance efficiency is calculated using the Super-SBM model based on slack variables at the micro-level. An analysis on the dynamic performance efficiency is conducted with the Malmquist index method. The factors of scale and technology of container terminals are mainly taken into account to explore the performance efficient improvement path of container ports. We obtained the following conclusions: (1) The container terminals in Korea show a similar performance efficiency level to the terminals in China, and their performance efficiency is an overall upward trend over the past five years. (2) The main reason for inefficiency in the container terminals in China and Korea is predominantly scale inefficiency. (3) Boosting the automation degree does not have a completely positive impact on the efficiency of the terminal. (4) In 2019–2023, the technical progress index of all container terminals in China and Korea showed a decreasing trend, leading to performance inefficiency of the container terminals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Maritime Transport: Trends and Solutions)
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21 pages, 13874 KiB  
Article
A Joint Graph-Based Approach for Simultaneous Underwater Localization and Mapping for AUV Navigation Fusing Bathymetric and Magnetic-Beacon-Observation Data
by Shuai Chang, Dalong Zhang, Linfeng Zhang, Guoji Zou, Chengcheng Wan, Wencong Ma and Qingji Zhou
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(6), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12060954 - 6 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1179
Abstract
Accurate positioning is the necessary basis for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) to perform safe navigation in underwater tasks, such as port environment monitoring, target search, and seabed exploration. The position estimates of underwater navigation systems usually suffer from an error accumulation problem, which [...] Read more.
Accurate positioning is the necessary basis for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) to perform safe navigation in underwater tasks, such as port environment monitoring, target search, and seabed exploration. The position estimates of underwater navigation systems usually suffer from an error accumulation problem, which makes the AUVs difficult use to perform long-term and accurate underwater tasks. Underwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approaches based on multibeam-bathymetric data have attracted much attention for being able to obtain error-bounded position estimates. Two problems limit the use of multibeam bathymetric SLAM in many scenarios. The first is that the loop closures only occur in the AUV path intersection areas. The second is that the data association is prone to failure in areas with gentle topographic changes. To overcome these problems, a joint graph-based underwater SLAM approach that fuses bathymetric and magnetic-beacon measurements is proposed in this paper. In the front-end, a robust dual-stage bathymetric data-association method is used to first detect loop closures on the multibeam bathymetric data. Then, a magnetic-beacon-detection method using Euler-deconvolution and optimization algorithms is designed to localize the magnetic beacons using a magnetic measurement sequence on the path. The loop closures obtained from both bathymetric and magnetic-beacon observations are fused to build a joint-factor graph. In the back-end, a diagnosis method is introduced to identify the potential false factors in the graph, thus improving the robustness of the joint SLAM system to outliers in the measurement data. Experiments based on field bathymetric datasets are performed to test the performance of the proposed approach. Compared with classic bathymetric SLAM algorithms, the proposed algorithm can improve the data-association accuracy by 50%, and the average positioning error after optimization converges to less than 10 m. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Maritime Transport: Trends and Solutions)
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20 pages, 5111 KiB  
Article
An Analytical Model for Estimating Ship-Related Emissions in Port Areas
by Filip Bojić, Anita Gudelj and Rino Bošnjak
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(12), 2377; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11122377 - 17 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1732
Abstract
Intensive shipping activity in port areas is considered one of the leading problems in the maritime sector, which has a negative effect on climate change and local air quality. The compilation of detailed inventories of combustion gases released by ships should therefore provide [...] Read more.
Intensive shipping activity in port areas is considered one of the leading problems in the maritime sector, which has a negative effect on climate change and local air quality. The compilation of detailed inventories of combustion gases released by ships should therefore provide a more accurate overview of emission levels, which can serve as a basis for analysing impacts on the port community and lead to the establishment of better environmental measures. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop an adaptable and relevant analytical model capable of integrating a comprehensive methodology with large databases of ship movements and technical details to provide clear ship-related emission estimates in large port areas. Considering the lack of research in Croatia that includes the mentioned approach and the insufficient monitoring of air pollutants in ports, the model was used to produce an initial overall emissions inventory for the Port of Split, the busiest passenger port in Croatia. In the model, bottom-up logic with an energy-based method was applied to detailed technical and near-real-time shipping data from AIS, creating the first high-density spatial and temporal overview of shipping emissions in the City port basin. The results showed strong seasonal fluctuations and large discrepancies in the quantities emitted between different ship types and operating modes. The analysis therefore raised the question of the need for the future development and implementation of a scalable system that would provide a more transparent and efficient overview of the important characteristics of air pollution from ships and port areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Maritime Transport: Trends and Solutions)
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20 pages, 1611 KiB  
Article
The Development of the Optimal Harvesting Model of an Offshore Fishery Supply Chain Based on a Single Vessel
by Ming-Feng Yang, Sheng-Long Kao and Raditia Yudistira Sujanto
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(8), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11081593 - 14 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1601
Abstract
This study delves into the offshore fishing industry in Taiwan, emphasizing the significance of the aquatic product market, supply chain development, and the maturity of cold chain technology. Taiwan’s geographical advantage of being surrounded by the sea provides a thriving environment for marine [...] Read more.
This study delves into the offshore fishing industry in Taiwan, emphasizing the significance of the aquatic product market, supply chain development, and the maturity of cold chain technology. Taiwan’s geographical advantage of being surrounded by the sea provides a thriving environment for marine resources and migratory fish. This study is motivated by the increasing demand for diverse fish products, driven by the growing need for high-quality protein. Recognizing the importance of meeting this demand, this study aims to investigate the capacity of logistics systems and cold storage in the offshore fishery industry, particularly under conditions of uncertainty. To tackle the optimization challenges prevalent in the offshore fishery supply chain, this study employs the bat algorithm (BA), a metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the remarkable echolocation behavior of bats. Additionally, a systematic literature review methodology is utilized to gather relevant articles and establish a comprehensive understanding of the study domain. This study culminates in proposing an optimized fishing model for the offshore fishery supply chain, highlighting the significance of evaluating supply chain value from a management perspective and identifying existing deficiencies and bottlenecks in current research. By focusing on optimizing the offshore fishery supply chain, this study aims to enhance the industry’s efficiency and effectiveness, providing valuable insights and recommendations to improve the capacity of logistics systems and cold storage. Furthermore, this study presents the results of the BA, showcasing its effectiveness in approaching optimization challenges, thereby validating its utility for the offshore fishery industry. Sensitivity analysis reveals the potential for higher profits by raising the inventory limit of the manufacturer, enabling the supplier to provide materials to more profitable trading partners. While this study is based on a revenue and cost model, it acknowledges that the objectives and constraints would become more complex in varying logistic system circumstances. The future study aims to expand the scale of the model and incorporate practical cases to further enhance its applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Maritime Transport: Trends and Solutions)
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30 pages, 4968 KiB  
Article
Maritime Data Collection Framework for Container Port Benchmarking
by Raimonds Aronietis, Edwin van Hassel and Thierry Vanelslander
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(8), 1557; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11081557 - 6 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2698
Abstract
Container ports play a crucial role in global maritime trade by serving as key transportation hubs for the movement of goods. Their performance differs due to unique local characteristics, creating a need for benchmarking to improve. Trends in trade patterns, supply chains and [...] Read more.
Container ports play a crucial role in global maritime trade by serving as key transportation hubs for the movement of goods. Their performance differs due to unique local characteristics, creating a need for benchmarking to improve. Trends in trade patterns, supply chains and maritime transport operations can substantially impact on the cargo handling requirement at ports and therefore port performance. The aim of this research is two-fold; first, to examine the current situation, main trends and disruptions affecting maritime container transport and ports, and second, to investigate the key criteria for assessing and benchmarking port performance. Regarding the first objective, for the investigation of the global trends in the liner shipping and container port sector, desk research is performed. Regarding the second, a framework is developed by identifying five areas of interest based on the strategic value of data and selecting the best available data. This allows creating a two-layer data framework that enables the collection of data at the country and port level. The developed framework is applied to gather relevant data points for various container ports, and allows drawing conclusions on the performance of the framework. The results of this research contribute to the understanding of container port performance and may serve as a valuable resource for port operators and researchers in the field. By examining the specific factors that influence port performance, this study provides a foundation for enhancing the comparability of container port operational performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Maritime Transport: Trends and Solutions)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Big data analysis for more accurate ship ETA’s: a model for ETA deviation prediction
Authors: Chris Maervoet*,; Thierry Vanelslander**; Marc Vervoort*
Affiliation: * Antwerp Maritime Academy ** University of Antwerp
Abstract: During the past decades, the focus in maritime supply chains has shifted from the individual company to an integrated chain. It is of utmost importance that the various chain actors are well aligned with each other, so as to make transport operations as smooth as possible, ideally without Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) deviations. To examine which drivers have to be tackled primarily so as to reduce ETA deviations, this paper examines for each individual ship type which parameters significantly influence delays. First and foremost, it is observed that seagoing vessels exhibit significantly greater delays than inland vessels. We also find that Chemtankers do not appear to be significantly impacted by their dimensions and geographic factors. Container ships, on the other hand, are insensitive to both geographical and meteorological factors. General Tankers, on the other hand, show the greatest delays. The output of the synthesizing PCA indicated that for all ship types the dimensions and meteorological factors have the greatest explanatory power in the context of delay predictions. The equations developed on this basis are able to calculate the chance of ETA deviations for each vessel type in the dataset. This result is therefore of great relevance to all actors in the maritime supply chains, as it allows planning much better and avoiding unnecessary asset and staff expenses.

Title: A Method for Obtaining the Set of Safe Maneuvering Strate-gies for Ships in Restricted Waters.
Authors: 张可
Affiliation: China Waterborne Transport Research Institute;Key Technology of Unmanned Ship System and Equipment Key Laboratory of Transportation Industry
Abstract: Abstract: In order to achieve autonomous navigation decision-making of altering course and changing speed for ships in restricted water areas, this paper constructs a model for obtaining a set of ship safety maneuvering strategies considering multiple factors based on the concept of ship reachability set. Firstly, the characteristics of restricted water channel restrictions, convention on the interna-tional regulations for preventing collisions at sea (COLREGs), ship encounter scenario, and ship maneuverability were analyzed. Then combined with the characteristics of restricted channel and ship maneuvering, the relationship between ship course and speed vector change and collision avoidance is analyzed and excavated by using the improved velocity obstacle method and vehicle rudder gradient method respectively, and the collision avoidance range of the ship under altering course and changing speed is obtained. The set of safe manipulation strategies for all obstacles in different situations is obtained. The simulation ex-perimental results show that the constructed model can accurately and intuitively reflect the set of ship safety maneuvers in restricted water areas, providing basis and support for autonomous navigation decision-making

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