Advances in High-Efficiency Marine Propulsion Systems
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: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 628
Special Issue Editors
Interests: integrated electric propulsion design; CFD; multiphysics coupling; propulsion performance measurement technology; propulsion wear and vibration control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global maritime industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by stringent environmental regulations, escalating fuel costs and the urgent need to decarbonize. Propulsion systems, as the heart of a vessel’s energy consumption and emissions profile, are a critical focus for innovation. Enhancing their efficiency is no longer merely an economic imperative but a fundamental requirement for sustainable and compliant maritime operations.
The evolution of marine propulsion has progressed from steam reciprocating engines to diesel dominance, and more recently, to the integration of electric and hybrid architectures. Each leap was motivated by gains in efficiency, power density and operational flexibility. The current era is defined by a shift from fossil-fuel optimization to a multi-fuel, low-carbon paradigm, alongside the digital integration of propulsion systems with vessel-wide energy management.
This Special Issue aims to provide a premier international forum for disseminating cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on novel technologies, methodologies and integrative solutions for high-efficiency marine propulsion. The scope encompasses the entire propulsion system ecosystem, from prime movers and energy sources to power transmission, propulsors and their intelligent control. We welcome contributions that bridge theoretical advancements, computational modeling, experimental validations and practical applications.
We encourage submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following frontiers: electrification and hybridization—hybrid powerplant optimization, battery integration strategies, shore connection systems and DC-grid architectures; propulsor and hull interaction innovation—advanced propeller designs (e.g., CLT, contra-rotating), biomimetic propulsors, pre-swirl and post-swirl stator devices and wake field optimization; digitalization and intelligent control—AI and model-predictive control for propulsion efficiency, digital twins for performance monitoring and optimization and cyber-physical system integration; novel propulsion concepts—air lubrication, superconducting electric propulsion and other disruptive technologies.
We solicit high-quality, original research articles, comprehensive review papers and insightful case studies. Submissions should demonstrate scientific rigor, present significant novel findings and contribute substantively to the field. Papers focusing on system-level integration and holistic energy flow management; techno-economic and environmental lifecycle assessments of new technologies; experimental results from prototypes, model tests or full-scale trials; high-fidelity simulations and validation studies and clear pathways to implementation and scalability are also welcome.
Prof. Dr. Wu Ouyang
Prof. Dr. Maarten Vanierschot
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-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 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
- high-efficiency marine propulsion
- advanced propulsor design
- decarbonization in shipping
- hybrid electric propulsion
- intelligent propulsion control
- digital twin for propulsion
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