Sustainable Maritime Governance and Shipping Risk Management

The maritime industry is vital to sustainable global trade. It is key in advancing social progress by generating employment, reducing inequality, and promoting gender inclusion. However, its expanding environmental footprint—marked by pollution, ocean degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change—requires immediate and coordinated action. International conventions provide essential regulatory frameworks for protecting the marine environment from shipping-related impacts across oceans and ports. At the same time, technological innovations such as AI, autonomous surface ships, and remote monitoring systems are reshaping maritime operations by enhancing risk prevention, environmental compliance, and operational resilience.

This Special Issue aims to bridge this gap by soliciting contributions that deliver empirically tested governance frameworks or pilot‑scale case studies rather than solely theoretical reviews. Emphasis will be placed on integrating data-driven tools with regulatory frameworks, operationalizing ecosystem-based management, and policy innovation to address climate resilience, compliance, and ocean health. Contributions beyond descriptive studies are encouraged to propose actionable, scalable solutions or novel theoretical models.

Dear Colleagues,

The maritime industry is central to global trade and economic growth, but its environmental impacts are becoming increasingly severe. However, its environmental footprint is growing, contributing to pollution, ocean degradation, biodiversity loss, and the acceleration of climate change. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), through global conventions such as MARPOL, MLC, and STCW, provides a comprehensive framework for safe, fair, and environmentally responsible shipping. Sustainability is further enhanced through policies such as adopting alternative fuels, promoting energy efficiency (e.g., EEDI, SEEMP), and sustainable waste management on ships and ports. At the same time, technology and digital tools improve risk prevention and response while enhancing operational resilience. Shipping also plays a broader social role: safeguarding employment, reducing inequalities, and empowering communities through education, inclusion, and gender equality. As such, maritime governance must evolve to protect marine life, ensure environmental compliance, and serve as a sustainable development model.  Promoting sustainable maritime governance is crucial to achieving resilient oceans, protecting life below water, and creating a future with fair and green global shipping.

These challenges demand urgent and coordinated responses. There is a pressing need for innovative governance models and integrated risk management strategies that align ship operations with ocean sustainability. Evidence-based approaches are vital to minimizing environmental harm and enhancing the resilience of marine ecosystems. The research community is called upon to develop actionable knowledge, shape adaptive policy frameworks, and deliver solutions that will drive the future of sustainable, resilient, and equitable maritime activity.

This Special Issue aims to present and develop advanced solutions for sustainable maritime governance and risk management that promote ocean health. The maritime industry, with its key importance for global trade, requires the simultaneous consideration of economic, environmental, and social parameters to achieve the sustainability and resilience of maritime transport.

Researchers are welcome to present studies on the application of innovative solutions for effective risk management in shipping, aiming to reduce environmental impacts and promote safety and sustainability in the shipping industry. The included topics should closely align with the scope of the Sustainable Oceans section, as this section emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to the sustainable use and management of ocean resources, contributing to carbon cycle stability, ecosystem resilience, and the safeguarding of marine and coastal environments.

The suggested topics for submissions include the following:

• Governance and Regulatory Integration:
  1. Risk-based maritime governance models for sustainable and climate-resilient oceans;
  2. Environmental, social, and regulatory frameworks in maritime risk management;
  3. Legal instruments and policy innovations for marine environmental protection.

• Risks and Technology:
  1. Applications of AI and digital technologies in maritime risk assessment and management;
  2. Autonomous surface vessels and continuous emissions monitoring;
  3. Sustainable smart ships: technological innovations for cleaner operations.

• Environmental Impact and Ecosystem Balance:
  1. Pollution control strategies and sustainable waste management in ports and ships;
  2. The mitigation of eutrophication and marine biodiversity loss linked to maritime activities;
  3. Ocean acidification and seawater warming: the risks and adaptive maritime responses;
  4. Integrating maritime traffic governance with marine biodiversity protection.

• Climate Change, Decarbonization, and the Circular Economy:
  1. Climate change adaptation strategies in shipping and maritime infrastructure;
  2. Decarbonizing maritime transport: regulatory, financial, and technological pathways;
  3. Circular economy principles in maritime logistics, ship recycling, and port operations.

• Social Sustainability and Inclusion:
  1. Reducing regional inequality and building capacity in maritime risk governance;
  2. Gender-responsive governance in maritime labor and leadership.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Dr. Hristos Karahalios
Dr. Emre Akyuz
Dr. Alexandros Dimitriadis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sustainable maritime governance
• shipping risk management
• maritime environmental compliance
• climate adaptation strategies
• sustainable ocean governance
• artificial intelligence in shipping
• blue carbon and ocean health
• marine protected areas and vessel routing
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and port operations