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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2026) | Viewed by 18340

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chunhui Zhou

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Guest Editor

School of Navigation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
Interests: ship pollution prevention and control; maritime navigation safety; traffic flow big data in maritime transport; intelligent maritime regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hongxiang Feng

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
Interests: maritime big data mining; maritime risk identification and evaluation; port competition and evolution

Dr. Fan Zhang

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Guest Editor

School of Navigation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
Interests: maritime safety management; transportation risk assessment; prevention of shipping pollution and green navigation

Dr. Zhongyi Sui

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Guest Editor

Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Interests: marine traffic situationtraffic situation; maritime navigation safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maritime logistics form the cornerstone of global trade, facilitating the seamless exchange of goods worldwide. Amidst the growing importance of sustainability, the maritime sector finds itself at a juncture where the quest for operational efficiency intersects with the urgent need to minimize environmental footprints. Over the past decades, with the development of shipping, maritime big data have provided the possibility of research on sustainable maritime transportation. In the coming decades, due to the strong potential for development that green shipping has, maritime logistics and low-carbon transportation will be redesigned. Undoubtedly, shipping will become more sustainable and efficient in the near future to meet public expectations and sustainable development goals, and different methods and technological innovation will play an important role in this. This Special Issue focuses on challenges and innovations related to sustainable maritime logistics and transportation, and it aims to reveal the latest problems and progress in research from the perspectives of policy, technology, and methods. The aim is to advance our understanding of the impacts of sustainable maritime transportation using the frontier system theory and methods so that we can reduce the environmental impact of ships in the face of growing activity and demand for transportation services.

High-quality submissions of papers presenting research in this field will be accepted, with a special interest in topics including, but not limited to, the following:

Sustainable maritime logistics through complex systems;
Advancements in low-carbon fuels and energy sources;
Emission control of air pollutants from ships;
Treatment of water pollutants in ships;
Ship emission monitoring;
Maritime carbon footprint reduction;
Pollution simulation;
Prevention of shipping pollution and green navigation;
Maritime safety management;
Carbon emission reduction in the maritime sector;
Marine space-time big data analysis and application;
Low-carbon transportation for shipping;
Maritime risk identification and evaluation;
Port cooperation and competition;
Port integration

Prof. Dr. Chunhui Zhou
Dr. Hongxiang Feng
Dr. Fan Zhang
Dr. Zhongyi Sui
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. 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.

Keywords

sustainable maritime logistics through complex systems
carbon peaking and carbon neutralization in maritime logistics
assessment methods, modeling, and simulation for sustainability in maritime logistics
advancements in low-carbon fuels and energy sources
emission control of air pollutants from ships
treatment of water pollutants in ships
ship emission monitoring
maritime carbon footprint reduction
pollution simulation
prevention of shipping pollution and green navigation
carbon emission reduction in the maritime sector
low-carbon transportation for shipping
data analytics and digital twin technique for port development
port cooperation and competition
port integration
port scheduling and resilience

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 1569 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Conceptual Framework for Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Advance the Construction and Implementation of Green Shipping Corridors

by Hui Xing and Kai Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2623; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052623 - 7 Mar 2026

Viewed by 465

Abstract

To effectively leverage the role of green shipping corridors (GSCs) in promoting greenhouse gas emissions reduction in international shipping, this paper firstly examined the current status and challenges faced by GSCs with the aim of providing valuable solutions for future development. Then, a conceptual framework of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) for the international maritime industry that enables the construction and implementation of GSCs was proposed. Additionally, the inherent correlation mechanism between the “feasibility wall” of GSCs and the core elements as well as key principles in the MSP framework was also explored. The findings indicate that the GSC initiatives at the global, regional and local levels are advancing rapidly, yet very few have been truly implemented and effectively operationalized, with the fundamental cause lying in the lack of effective theoretical guidance and research support; based on the theory, mechanism and framework of MSPs, the existing GSCs are found to still have considerable deficiencies in partnership building, roles and responsibilities, governance structure, funding and resource support, as well as monitoring and accountability. Concept validation through case studies demonstrates that the conceptual framework proposed in this paper can serve as a practical diagnostic tool for GSC initiatives, which can help to identify the specific stage they are failing at and apply targeted principles to fix it. This paper is expected to contribute to a more effective advancement of the development of GSCs, thereby actively facilitating the achievement of net-zero emission targets for international shipping. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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29 pages, 518 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Disruption and Maritime Carbon Emissions for Sustainability in Maritime Transportation: A Natural Experiment from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş 7.6 Mwg Earthquake

by Vahit Çalışır

Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 2023; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18042023 - 16 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 534

Abstract

Natural disasters disrupt maritime operations; yet, their environmental consequences remain underexplored. This study quantifies CO₂ emission changes following the February 2023 İskenderun Bay earthquakes (7.6 Mwg and 7.5 Mwg) using AIS-derived port visit data and graph neural network modeling. Analyzing 25,837 port visits across a 36-month period (January 2022–December 2024), we compared emissions during baseline (pre-earthquake), acute disruption (February–June 2023), and recovery phases. Results revealed a statistically significant 35.9% increase in per-visit CO₂ emissions during the acute phase (t = 11.79, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.27), driven by extended port visit durations (from 77.87 to 105.82 h). Counterfactual analysis estimated 27,574 tonnes of excess CO₂ emissions directly attributable to earthquake disruption. Network analysis showed a 23.8% reduction in edge density during the acute phase. The graph neural network (GNN) emission prediction model achieved R² = 0.985 (baseline) and R² = 0.997 (recovery) in predicting emission patterns, while the acute phase showed predictability collapse (R² = −1.591). These findings demonstrate that seismic events generate sustainability-relevant externalities beyond immediate physical damage, and that quantifying disruption-driven excess emissions supports sustainability-oriented port resilience planning and more robust maritime emission accounting (e.g., under the EU MRV framework). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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36 pages, 2297 KB

Open AccessArticle

Decarbonizing Coastal Shipping: Voyage-Level CO₂ Intensity, Fuel Switching and Carbon Pricing in a Distribution-Free Causal Framework

by Murat Yildiz, Abdurrahim Akgundogdu and Guldem Elmas

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020723 - 10 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 533

Abstract

Coastal shipping plays a critical role in meeting maritime decarbonization targets under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS); however, operators currently lack robust tools to forecast route-specific carbon intensity and evaluate the causal benefits of fuel switching. This study developed a distribution-free causal forecasting framework for voyage-level Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) intensity using an enriched panel of 1440 real-world voyages across four Nigerian coastal routes (2022–2024). We employed a physics-informed monotonic Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model trained under a strict leave-one-route-out (LORO) protocol, integrated with split-conformal prediction for uncertainty quantification and Causal Forests for estimating heterogeneous treatment effects. The model predicted emission intensity on completely unseen corridors with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 40.7 kg CO₂/nm, while 90% conformal prediction intervals achieved 100% empirical coverage. While the global average effect of switching from heavy fuel oil to diesel was negligible (≈−0.07 kg CO₂/nm), Causal Forests revealed significant heterogeneity, with effects ranging from −74 g to +29 g CO₂/nm depending on route conditions. Economically, targeted diesel use becomes viable only when carbon prices exceed ~100 USD/tCO₂. These findings demonstrate that effective coastal decarbonization requires moving beyond static baselines to uncertainty-aware planning and targeted, route-specific fuel strategies rather than uniform fleet-wide policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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19 pages, 1054 KB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Revenue Recycling: The Cornerstone of the Carbon Pricing Mechanism Within the Shipping Industry

by Peyman Ghaforian Masodzadeh, Aykut I. Ölcer and Fabio Ballini

Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310599 - 26 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1921

Abstract

In a carbon pricing mechanism, the collection of contributions (taxes) and the distribution of carbon revenue are both equally critical, as they constitute the interdependent elements of the same system. While contribution collection serves to economically incentivize stakeholders, carbon revenue distribution fosters participation in decarbonization efforts through mechanisms such as rebates, rewards, and green loans. The economic effects of a carbon pricing mechanism vary significantly depending on how the generated revenues are used. A well-structured organizational framework can assist policymakers in optimizing the allocation of carbon revenues, thereby supporting a robust fiscal policy that promotes efficiency, long-term growth, and equity. Despite the critical role of carbon revenue distribution, there is a notable absence of literature addressing this issue in the maritime context. To address this gap, this study draws on insights from other sectors and global carbon pricing mechanisms to develop a simulatory template for evaluating its applicability to the maritime industry. The simulation yields a comprehensive classification of approaches to carbon revenue recycling, while also examining the associated risks and challenges in implementing future carbon pricing mechanism in the maritime industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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17 pages, 918 KB

Open AccessArticle

Building the I/SVOC Emission Inventory for Ocean-Going Ships: A Case Study on the Southeast Coast of China

by Xing Chang, Yue Li, Yonglin Zhang, Mingjun Li, Xiaowen Yang, Quansheng Huang, Yuanyuan Song, Rui Wu, Jie Liu and Youkai Xing

Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188310 - 16 Sep 2025

Viewed by 902

Abstract

Controlling air pollution from sea-going vessels is crucial to the sustainable development of maritime transportation. However, emissions of intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs), an emerging aerosol precursor, remain poorly understood. This study developed a ship-type-, fuel-, and operating-mode-specific IVOC emission factor dataset based on existing real-world vessel measurements, and a ship-call-based IVOC inventory methodology tailored for regulatory applications. We quantified IVOC emissions from sea-going ships (excluding fishing and military vessels) entering or departing from the ports in the Economic Zone on the West Coast of the Taiwan Straits in 2014. The total IVOC emissions were 481.4 ± 220.0 t, with Xiamen Port contributing the highest share. Cargo and passenger ships accounted for 65% and 21% of emissions, respectively. While switching to low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur fuels increased IVOC emissions by 87% and 49% compared to high-sulfur fuels, the greater reductions in particulate matter and SO₂ emissions still yielded net environmental benefits. The ship IVOC emissions might have become more important in recent years due to enhanced port activity and fuel switching. Uncertainty analysis emphasizes the urgent need for IVOC emission testing on more vessel types. By providing a high-resolution profile of IVOC emissions from selected ports, this study underscores the urgency of adopting shore power and zero-emission vessels to mitigate organic aerosol pollution and offers a foundation for refining environmental impact assessments and efficient emission control policies to achieve sustainability in maritime transportation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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11 pages, 194 KB

Open AccessArticle

Green Paradox in the Carbon Neutrality Process: A Strategic Game About the Shipping Industry

by Peng Xu, Yukun Cao and Jingye Li

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5970; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135970 - 29 Jun 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 994

Abstract

The shipping industry plays a significant role in China’s and the global pursuit of carbon neutrality, and it is essential to be cautious about the potential risks associated with the green paradox. This study incorporates Goal Setting Theory and Value Expectations Theory into the analytical framework of the green paradox and tests this framework through a strategic game research design. The study finds that, first, the green paradox of shipping companies presents hidden characteristics, and the loss caused by coping strategies is a necessary risk to be vigilant about. Second, the green paradox of shipping companies is mainly caused by the decision-makers’ goal perception of accessibility. Moreover, due to the motivation of long-term acceptance of green subsidies, decision-makers will delay the carbon neutrality process. Third, policies need to adopt a gradient increasing quota management strategy, and be accompanied by a variety of policy tools to reduce the risk of the green paradox. This study opens the theoretical “black box” of market expectations and provides a solution to reduce the risk of the green paradox. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

27 pages, 7848 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of Inland Waterway Transport as a Key to Ensuring Sustainability: A Geographic Overview of the Bucharest–Danube Canal

by Gabor-Giovani Luca, Daniela-Ioana Guju and Laura Comănescu

Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4438; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104438 - 13 May 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4549

Abstract

Inland waterway transport faces increasing recognition as a sustainable alternative to conventional transport modes, particularly due to its lower environmental impact and higher efficiency. However, its implementation remains limited in many regions, including Romania, despite substantial potential benefits. This study addresses this gap by assessing the Bucharest–Danube Canal as a strategic infrastructure project capable of supporting Romania’s transition to sustainable transport, aligned with the European Green Deal and the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Employing a structured methodological approach, this research includes a comprehensive literature review and detailed analysis of successful European inland waterway transport projects, systematically correlating findings with specific Sustainable Development Goals. The results illustrate clear relationships between the selected case studies and the targeted goals, highlighting approaches for integrating sustainability into waterway infrastructure. Specifically, the study identifies effective guidelines applicable to Romania and emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive, multi-dimensional planning approach that exploits the canal’s multifunctional capabilities beyond transportation, encompassing agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation. In conclusion, despite historical and current challenges, the Bucharest–Danube Canal represents a strategic opportunity for Romania, promising significant contributions toward achieving national and regional sustainability objectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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18 pages, 5962 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Routing and Sustainable Operation Scheduling of Large Ships with Integrated Full-Electric Propulsion

by Epameinondas K. Koumaniotis and Fotios D. Kanellos

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10662; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310662 - 5 Dec 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1791

Abstract

The continuously intensified pursuit to reduce emissions related to human activity and the increased competition in maritime sector calls for sustainable and well-planned solutions to conform with environmental constraints and maximize profit, respectively. In a sector that is very critical for human activities, such as the maritime industry, it is essential to be able to reduce ship emissions without increasing the overall cost of operations and the time to transfer the cargo. All these parameters make ship routing and ship emission reduction very crucial. This work examines the effective routing of large ships with an integrated full-electric propulsion system and the optimal power generation scheduling of their generators to attain the minimum possible operational cost. To achieve this, the problem was formulated, modeled and solved in two stages, namely, ship routing and power generation scheduling, respectively. The first stage was solved using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method and the second one with a conventional optimization algorithm based on the steepest decent concept. The proposed ship routing method is based on the sea resistance concept and the minimization of total ship propulsion energy. The obtained results show that the optimal path is a combination of the minimum distance path and the minimum resistance path. Ship sustainability is reinforced with the reduction in ship operation cost and ship emissions. Ship emission reduction is achieved in the second optimization stage using a suitable emission index that complies with IMO regulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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28 pages, 3315 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Maritime Energy Efficiency: A Machine Learning Approach Using Deep Reinforcement Learning for EEXI and CII Compliance

by Mohammed H. Alshareef and Ayman F. Alghanmi

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310534 - 30 Nov 2024

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5191

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set stringent regulations to reduce the carbon footprint of maritime transport, using metrics such as the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) to track progress. This study introduces a novel approach using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to optimize energy efficiency across five types of vessels: cruise ships, car carriers, oil tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships, under six different operational scenarios, such as varying cargo loads and weather conditions. Traditional fuels, like marine gas oil (MGO) and intermediate fuel oil (IFO), challenge compliance with these standards unless engine power restrictions are applied. This approach combines DRL with alternative fuels—bio-LNG and hydrogen—to address these challenges. The DRL algorithm, which dynamically adjusts engine parameters, demonstrated substantial improvements in optimizing fuel consumption and performance. Results revealed that while using DRL, fuel efficiency increased by up to 10%, while EEXI values decreased by 8% to 15%, and CII ratings improved by 10% to 30% across different scenarios. Specifically, under heavy cargo loads, the DRL-optimized system achieved a fuel efficiency of 7.2 nmi/ton compared to 6.5 nmi/ton with traditional methods and reduced the EEXI value from 4.2 to 3.86. Additionally, the DRL approach consistently outperformed traditional optimization methods, demonstrating superior efficiency and lower emissions across all tested scenarios. This study highlights the potential of DRL in advancing maritime energy efficiency and suggests that further research could explore DRL applications to other vessel types and alternative fuels, integrating additional machine learning techniques to enhance optimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Logistics and Low-Carbon Transportation)

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