Green and Smart Synergies in Port, Shipping and Water Transportation

Dear Colleagues,

The global maritime industry is at a historic turning point, driven by the dual forces of environmental sustainability and digital transformation. On one hand, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established ambitious decarbonization targets, mandating that international shipping achieves net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by or around 2050. This legally binding framework is fundamentally reshaping the industry’s technological roadmap and economic landscape, accelerating the transition toward alternative fuels and energy-saving technologies. On the other hand, a parallel revolution is underway, led by “smart” technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and digital twins. These technologies are no longer just tools for enhancing operational efficiency; they have become critical enablers for achieving green objectives. For instance, AI-driven voyage optimization can directly reduce fuel consumption, while digital twin technology can precisely model and predict the environmental impact of port operations. The profound underlying logic is that the immense pressure to decarbonize (“why transform”) is accelerating the research, development, and application of smart technologies (“how to transform”), creating an unprecedentedly strong business case for digitalization. This Special Issue aims to delve into this critical synergy and interaction.

This Special Issue aims to gather a collection of high-impact original research and comprehensive review articles focusing on the key intersections of green technologies and smart systems throughout the maritime logistics chain. We seek research that moves beyond the optimization of single technologies or isolated segments, encouraging a holistic and systemic perspective. While much current research focuses on either green ships or smart port equipment, the real challenges and opportunities lie at their collaborative interface, such as in port–ship joint emission reduction mechanisms. Isolated optimizations can lead to “carbon leakage” or problem-shifting; for example, an efficient vessel arriving early at a congested port merely transfers its waiting time and associated emissions from sea to anchorage. Therefore, this Special Issue is dedicated to promoting research that transcends component-level analysis, focusing instead on integrated solutions that require cross-entity data sharing and collaborative decision-making.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

Theme 1: Intelligent Technologies for Green Port Ecosystems

• Applications of AI, IoT, and big data analytics for energy optimization and emissions control in port operations.
• Digital twin models for port performance simulation, environmental impact assessment, and climate resilience planning.
• Port automation: Assessing the interplay between operational efficiency, labor dynamics, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.
• Circular economy principles, green infrastructure, and advanced waste management in ports.
• Geospatial technologies and remote sensing for monitoring the port environment (air and water quality).

Theme 2: Decarbonization Pathways for Shipping and Waterway Transport

• Lifecycle analysis (LCA), techno-economic feasibility, and safety assessments of alternative fuels (e.g., green ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, biofuels). Studies on the complex trade-offs of alternative fuels are particularly encouraged. For example, while green ammonia is a leading zero-carbon fuel candidate, the risks posed by potential nitrogen oxide and ammonia slip to public health and the environment require thorough investigation.
• Innovations in onboard energy-saving technologies: Wind-assisted propulsion, air lubrication systems, and onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS).
• Smart navigation, weather routing, and AI-driven voyage optimization for fuel consumption reduction.
• Analysis of the impact of regulatory frameworks (e.g., IMO’s GHG pricing, Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), fuel standards) on fleet modernization and investment decisions.

Theme 3: Integrated Systems, Policy, and Governance for Sustainable Transformation

• Port–ship interface optimization: Collaborative models for Just-in-Time (JIT) arrivals, shore power (cold ironing) integration, and joint emission reduction.
• Foundational barriers to digital transformation: Research on data governance, interoperability standards (such as those promoted by TIC4.0), and the human and organizational factors in ship-to-shore data sharing to address the “data divide”.
• Resilience and risk management in green maritime supply chains, including responses to disruptions like pandemics or geopolitical events.
• The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) dimensions of the maritime transition, including stakeholder engagement, green finance, and just transition policies for the workforce.
• Development and evaluation of new business models and financial instruments (e.g., green bonds, carbon markets) to de-risk and incentivize green and smart investments.

Dr. Dong Zhang
Dr. Chenrui Qu
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability 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 2400 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.

• green shipping
• smart ports
• maritime decarbonization
• digitalization
• alternative marine fuels
• port automation
• digital twin
• IMO Regulations
• sustainable logistics
• intelligent water transportation