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Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics
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Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics

A Special Issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312) belonging to the section "Geological Oceanography".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 3274

Editors

Prof. Dr. Tingkai Nian

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: marine soil mechanics; marine engineering geology; marine geoenvironments and geohazards; subsea construction and conservation; marine georesources and geotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yinghui Tian

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Guest Editor
Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Interests: offshore geotechnics; anchoring systems; mooring solutions; pipelines and cables; renewable energy development
Prof. Dr. Dongfang Liang

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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
Interests: fluid mechanics; hydrodynamics; sediment transport; granular flow; pollutant transport; water quality; computational methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Xingsen Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Engineering Geology and the Environment and Geological Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Interests: marine engineering geology and geotechnical engineering; marine geological hazards; computational fluid dynamics; deep-sea mining engineering and environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of coastal, offshore, and deep-sea engineering (e.g., marine resource exploitation and offshore wind energy), research in marine geotechnics and geoenvironmental hazards has advanced significantly. This Special Issue, organized by Prof. Tingkai Nian, Prof. Yinghui Tian, Prof. Dongfang Liang, and Prof. Xingsen Guo, aims to showcase recent progress and emerging challenges in the field. We welcome contributions on marine soil mechanics, offshore geotechnics, marine engineering geology, marine geohazards, marine hydrodynamics, ecological conservation, and environmental geologic impacts associated with carbon sequestration, deep-sea mining, and seafloor construction. Submissions may include theoretical studies, laboratory experiments, in situ observations, numerical modelling, as well as big data and machine learning approaches. Case studies, review papers, and short communications are also encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Tingkai Nian
Prof. Dr. Yinghui Tian
Prof. Dr. Dongfang Liang
Prof. Dr. Xingsen Guo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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 semimonthly 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

  • marine engineering geology
  • marine soil mechanics
  • marine geohazards
  • offshore geotechnics
  • marine hydrodynamics, sediment transport
  • seafloor construction and conservation
  • renewable energy development
  • carbon sequestration
  • deep-sea mining

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 20163 KB  
Article
Vacuum Preloading for Enhanced Uplift Performance of Suction Buckets in Soft Clay: Model Tests and Hydro-Mechanical Finite-Element Analysis
by Zhen Huang, Chenyang He, Lei Fan, Linkai Wang, Yongjin Zhang and Li Shi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(16), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14161451 - 7 Aug 2026
Viewed by 373
Abstract
Suction bucket foundations provide an efficient foundation solution for offshore wind turbines, but improving their uplift resistance in soft clay remains a practical challenge. Vacuum preloading has been an effective means to enhance soft clay engineering properties, yet its offshore application is constrained [...] Read more.
Suction bucket foundations provide an efficient foundation solution for offshore wind turbines, but improving their uplift resistance in soft clay remains a practical challenge. Vacuum preloading has been an effective means to enhance soft clay engineering properties, yet its offshore application is constrained by the difficulty of maintaining a reliable underwater seal. This study proposes soil-plug vacuum preloading, in which the impermeable skirt and lid of an installed suction bucket serve as a natural sealed boundary for post-installation soil improvement for enhanced uplift performance. Model tests on a bucket equipped with a central prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) were conducted to examine vacuum transmission, soil consolidation, and uplift behaviour. Two vacuum-preloaded cases with prefabricated vertical drain lengths HPVD = L and HPVD = 2L, where HPVD denotes the PVD length and L denotes the bucket skirt length, were compared with an untreated case. Coupled hydro-mechanical finite element analyses were performed to interpret the observed responses. The tests showed that ultimate pullout capacity increased by 197% for HPVD = L and 288% for HPVD = 2L. The maximum negative pore pressure beneath the lid increased by 89% and 154%, respectively, while the remaining non-suction resistance also increased markedly due to vacuum-induced consolidation. Prototype-scale numerical analyses of a double-walled bucket were further conducted to investigate the effects of the bucket length-to-diameter ratio (L/D = 0.6, 1.0, and 1.5) and the applied vacuum pressure (0 to −70 kPa) on the uplift response. Among the analysed cases, the largest increase occurred for L/D = 1.5 under an applied vacuum pressure of −70 kPa, where the predicted uplift load at a displacement of 0.20 m increased by up to 42% compared with the no-vacuum condition. These results provide proof-of-concept evidence that soil-plug vacuum preloading may offer a potentially feasible post-installation approach for improving the uplift response of suction buckets in soft clay, although further experimental and field-scale validation is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics)
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22 pages, 3832 KB  
Article
Instability Risk of Submarine Hydrate-Bearing Slopes Under Thermal Disturbances
by Xiaolong Song, Jiuhui Cheng, Bin Zhu and Hao Zhang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(15), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14151441 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 314
Abstract
Thermal disturbance can destabilize submarine hydrate-bearing sediments by reducing hydrate stability, promoting dissociation, weakening hydrate-derived cementation, and increasing excess pore pressure. This study develops a probabilistic framework coupling a one-dimensional thermal–hydrate evolution model with an infinite slope stability formulation. Hydrate system degradation is [...] Read more.
Thermal disturbance can destabilize submarine hydrate-bearing sediments by reducing hydrate stability, promoting dissociation, weakening hydrate-derived cementation, and increasing excess pore pressure. This study develops a probabilistic framework coupling a one-dimensional thermal–hydrate evolution model with an infinite slope stability formulation. Hydrate system degradation is represented by a hydrate degradation risk index (RIhyd), whereas mechanical stability is evaluated using the minimum factor of safety (FSmin). The reference simulation places hydrate mainly at 140–200 m below the seafloor, with a peak initial saturation of approximately 0.45. Over 10 ka, the hydrate occurrence zone contracts by approximately 66.7%. The minimum factor of safety, FSmin, decreases from approximately 6.2, crosses the warning threshold of 1.30, and first reaches the critical threshold of 1.00 at approximately 4.6 ka after substantial hydrate system degradation. Monte Carlo simulations (=800) yield a terminal median FSmin of approximately 2.8 and a 5th–95th percentile range of 1.1–11.4; the corresponding median RIhyd is approximately 31. The terminal probabilities of warning and critical states are approximately 0.16 and 0.08, respectively. Sensitivity analysis identifies slope angle and total temperature rise as the principal controls on FSmin, while total temperature rise dominates the coupled risk response. The framework provides an uncertainty-aware screening tool for comparing hydrate degradation and slope stability responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics)
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20 pages, 6601 KB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Large Deformation Movement Process of Underwater Slope Subjected to Seismic Loads: A Case Study from the St. Niklausen Landslide
by Mingzhe Wei, Zhongde Gu, Ze Rong, Yang Liu, Yang Lu, Defeng Zheng and Tingkai Nian
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(14), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14141277 - 11 Jul 2026
Viewed by 427
Abstract
Large deformation runout is a key factor in assessing the hazards posed by underwater landslides. However, conventional kinematic analyses often neglect both the progressive degradation of slope materials and the hydrodynamic response accompanying the interaction between the moving mass and the overlying water. [...] Read more.
Large deformation runout is a key factor in assessing the hazards posed by underwater landslides. However, conventional kinematic analyses often neglect both the progressive degradation of slope materials and the hydrodynamic response accompanying the interaction between the moving mass and the overlying water. Taking the well-documented St. Niklausen underwater landslide as a representative case, this study employs a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) model to investigate the earthquake-triggered initiation, large deformation movement, and hydrodynamic response of the landslide. A Python 2.7.15-based stress mapping method is developed to establish an accurate initial geostatic stress field for the irregular slope profile. The numerical model reproduces the principal stages of landslide initiation, runout, and deposition. The results reveal a progressive retrogressive failure mechanism in which successive sliding masses interact through a high-strength compression zone. The rear sliding mass continuously transfers compressive work to the frontal mass, thereby maintaining its downslope movement and indirectly promoting basal erosion to a maximum depth of approximately 6.2 m. In addition, rapid landslide motion generates pronounced vortical flow in the overlying water. These flow structures reflect the hydrodynamic response induced by landslide motion, although their net influence on basal resistance and final runout cannot be isolated from the present coupled simulation. These findings clarify the internal mechanical evolution of underwater landslide movement and characterize the accompanying hydrodynamic response, providing a methodological basis for assessing landslide mobility and related underwater hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics)
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32 pages, 10299 KB  
Article
Coupling Effects of Flow Regimes and Pulsation Frequencies on the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Monopile Scour Through Experimental Study
by Mayao Cheng, Hongzhen Zhou and Zhuang Jin
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(11), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14110991 - 27 May 2026
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Scour around monopile foundations is a pivotal challenge in nearshore engineering, as it undermines sediment support and threatens structural stability. This study systematically investigates the dynamic evolution of scour under four distinct flow regimes—steady, sinusoidal, pulsatile, and irregular—coupled with varying pulsation frequencies (39, [...] Read more.
Scour around monopile foundations is a pivotal challenge in nearshore engineering, as it undermines sediment support and threatens structural stability. This study systematically investigates the dynamic evolution of scour under four distinct flow regimes—steady, sinusoidal, pulsatile, and irregular—coupled with varying pulsation frequencies (39, 69, and 100 Hz). Utilizing a laboratory flume and underwater high-resolution imaging, near-pile flow velocities and morphological development were monitored in real time. Results indicate that the pulsation frequency, acting as the primary energy input, dictates the ultimate scour scale and acceleration. Three distinct evolutionary modes are identified: “gradual advancement” at 39 Hz, “ Rapid development phase” at 69 Hz, and “instantaneous stabilization” at 100 Hz. Higher frequencies concentrate energy release into the incipient stage, drastically shortening the duration to reach equilibrium. Morphological analysis reveals that equilibrium scour shapes are highly regime-dependent, manifesting as teardrop (steady), elliptical (sinusoidal), pronouncedly elliptical (pulsatile), and semi-circular (irregular) configurations. While scour dimensions generally scale with frequency, their sensitivity is governed by the flow regime; Constant Current Flow exhibits the highest volumetric vulnerability, whereas pulsatile flow demonstrates the greatest morphological stability. These findings provide a theoretical framework for predicting scour geometry in complex marine environments and optimizing foundation protection strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics)
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Review

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24 pages, 4841 KB  
Review
Coral Visual Recognition for Marine Environmental Monitoring: A Systematic Review of Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions
by Hu Liu, Yinwei Luo, Qianyu Luo, Yuelin Xu, Xiuhai Wang and Xingsen Guo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(8), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14080717 - 13 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 922
Abstract
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse marine ecosystems, playing irreplaceable roles in maintaining marine ecological balance and coastal services. Under dual pressures of global climate change and human activities, coral bleaching and degradation have become increasingly frequent, creating an urgent need for [...] Read more.
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse marine ecosystems, playing irreplaceable roles in maintaining marine ecological balance and coastal services. Under dual pressures of global climate change and human activities, coral bleaching and degradation have become increasingly frequent, creating an urgent need for large-scale, long-term, and highly automated monitoring technologies. In recent years, advances in underwater imaging and deep learning have made visual recognition a core approach for coral classification and health assessment. However, most studies only focus on isolated model accuracy optimization, lacking systematic full-chain analysis integrating datasets, model evolution, cross-domain generalization, engineering constraints, and ecological adaptation, which severely hinders large-scale cross-regional and long-term application. This paper systematically reviews coral visual recognition technologies. It summarizes underwater image acquisition, public dataset characteristics, and annotation system evolution, then compares traditional feature engineering and deep learning in key tasks, highlighting their differences in feature representation and generalization. Four core challenges are identified: class imbalance, poor underwater image quality, weak cross-device/region generalization, and mismatched algorithm metrics with ecological needs. Finally, feasible solutions based on self-supervised pre-training, domain adaptation, and multimodal fusion are discussed to enhance model robustness and ecological interpretability, providing methodological support for intelligent coral reef monitoring systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Geohazards and Offshore Geotechnics)
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