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Special Issue "Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies"

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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 (29 February 2020) | Viewed by 93919

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kum Fai Yuen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: innovation and technology management; technology and public health management; resilience and continuity; supply chain management and logistics; sustainable shipping management; sustainable cities; maritime strategy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yiik Diew Wong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: urban systems; urban transportation; green and sustainable transport; freight movements; safety analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We cordially invite you to submit a paper to our Special Issue entitled ‘Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies’ at Sustainability, which is indexed in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) and has an impact factor of 2.075.

Sustainable maritime transportation management is defined as the integration of social and environmental concerns of stakeholders in the business operations of maritime firms, such as shipping companies and port operators. It is recognized as one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century, which is reflected in the increasing number of international regulations such as MARPOL 2020, Energy Efficiency Design Index, Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan, and Ballast Water Management System to curb greenhouse gas emissions or reduce the impact of invasive marine biological species from ship. In addition, self-regulated or market-driven initiatives, technologies, and measures, for instance, ISO 14000, ISO 26000, slow-steaming, cold-ironing, scrubbers, biocide-free paints, and renewable fuel alternatives are increasingly being adopted by shipping companies to lower operating cost, differentiate their services, and reduce the impact of their operations on society and the environment.

Research on sustainable maritime transportation is gaining ground in all aspects and sectors of the industry. Nevertheless, the ever-tightening of environmental and social criteria prescribed by international regulations has called for innovative, scientific or data-driven approaches to manage maritime transportation activities. This Special Issue at Sustainability aims to bring together recent theoretical, applied or methodological advances concerning sustainable maritime transportation management and policies. Both research and review papers are welcomed.

Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subjected to a rigorous peer review with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

Prof. Dr. Kum Fai Yuen
Dr. Yiik Diew Wong
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.

Keywords

Sustainable maritime transportation planning and management
Sustainable maritime transportation policies and implementation
Sustainable maritime transportation and competitive advantages
Stakeholder management and participation in the maritime transportation industry
Customer satisfaction and loyalty through implementing sustainable maritime transportation activities
Sustainability disclosure and marketing in the maritime transportation industry
Sustainable maritime network or fleet optimization
Sustainability leadership
Managing sustainability through collaboration and coordination
Economic analysis of sustainable maritime transportation

Published Papers (17 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Policy Agenda for Sustainable Intermodal Transport in China: An Application of the Multiple Streams Framework

Jiawei Ge

Wenming Shi

and

Xuefeng Wang

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3915; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093915 - 11 May 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4831

Abstract

Intermodal transport is widely believed to be an efficient way of organizing transportation activities because of its significant role in reducing logistics costs and emissions of air pollutants, which copes with the ever-increasing economic and environmental concerns. This paper applies the multiple streams framework (MSF) to analyze three streams (e.g., the problem stream, policy stream, and politics stream) in setting policy agenda for sustainable intermodal transport in China. By restricting the attention to the opening of the policy window and the coupling of the three streams, the motivation, process, and trend of formulating intermodal transport policy are systematically discussed. The findings show that the key to setting the policy agenda for sustainable intermodal transport in China is to strengthen collaboration among multiple interest groups, boost the national mood, and diversify the identity of policy entrepreneurs. This paper not only verifies the applicability of the MSF, but also helps us to better understand how sustainable intermodal transport policy is formulated in China, thus promoting future policy making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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24 pages, 3042 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Energy-Efficient and Integrated Allocation of Berths, Quay Cranes, and Internal Trucks in Container Terminals

Ahmed Karam

Amr Eltawil

and

Kristian Hegner Reinau

Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3202; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083202 - 15 Apr 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3386

Abstract

Despite a significant number of studies that have focused on the operational efficiency of container terminals, existing literature has paid little attention to improving energy efficiency, e.g., energy consumption and negative externalities in container terminals. Most researchers consider energy-saving goals when allocating berths and quay cranes to vessels, assuming that internal trucks are in sufficient supply. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that shortage of internal trucks has become an issue that greatly affects the operational and energy efficiencies of container terminals. This work presents a planning model that integrates berth allocation, quay crane assignment, and internal truck assignment problems. The developed model contributes to existing literature by including energy-saving goals in the integrated planning of these problems, as well as including important realistic factors such as shortages of internal trucks and handling time estimations, thus producing a reliable handling plan that achieves energy and cost savings without additional truck investment. To solve realistic problems, a Lagrangian relaxation-based method is developed. Furthermore, the benefits of the developed approach are demonstrated by comparing it to an existing approach. On average, our approach could improve the solutions of the integrated problem with different numbers of internal trucks by 6% compared to the solutions obtained using the existing approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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19 pages, 687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Cost Benefit Analysis of Port Handling Plans for Annex IV waste of MARPOL: A Case Study in Las Palmas Port

Alba Martínez-López

Alejandro Ruiz-García

and

Ivone Pérez

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062382 - 18 Mar 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3642

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of Directive (EU) 2019/883 from the social interest perspective. To achieve this aim, it assesses the performance of the sewage treatment plan (Annex IV of MARPOL) in Las Palmas Port and the accomplishment of the Cost Recovery System. This involves reviewing the mandatory fees for landing the sewage in the port, the sewage treatment costs and the environmental impact of the treated effluent from the vessels (environmental benefits) and addressing technical difficulties in order to meet the normative standard required from the vessels’ sewage in the framework of Las Palmas Port. Through a cost–benefit analysis not only the current protocol for the reception and treatment of Annex IV waste in the port is assessed, but also alternative waste treatment plans (sewage routes) are discussed in terms of social interest. The results of the paper show that only when the treated sewage is reused are the costs assumed to implement the directive overtaken by the benefits gained from complying with it. Consequently, the port authorities should address their efforts in this direction, as should the policy makers, who should integrate in the international normative the collaboration of the on-board sewage treatment plants to meet the PPP (Polluter Pays Principle). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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23 pages, 1958 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Joint Optimization of Routes and Container Fleets to Design Sustainable Intermodal Chains in Chile

Alba Martínez-López

and

Manuel Chica

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2221; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062221 - 12 Mar 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2180

Abstract

This paper introduces a decision support tool for sustainable intermodal chains with seaborne transport, in which the optimization of a multi-objective model enables conflicting objectives to be handled simultaneously. Through the assessment of ‘door-to-door’ transport in terms of costs, time, and environmental impact, the most suitable maritime route and the optimized fleet are jointly calculated to maximize the opportunities for success of intermodal chains versus trucking. The resolution of the model through NSGA-II algorithms permits to obtain Pareto fronts that offer groups of optimized solutions. This is not only useful to make decisions in the short term, but also to establish long-term strategies through assessment of the frontiers’ behavior obtained when a sensitivity analysis is undertaken. Thus, consequences of transport policies on intermodal performance can be analyzed. A real-life case is studied to test the usefulness of the model. From the application case, not only the most suitable Motorway of the Seas with their optimized fleets are identified for Chile, but also significant general findings are provided for both policy makers and heads of ports to promote the intermodal option regardless of their geographical locations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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12 pages, 12117 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Pass-by Characterization of Noise Emitted by Different Categories of Seagoing Ships in Ports

and

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051740 - 26 Feb 2020

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 3464

Abstract

In the light of sustainability, satisfactory living conditions is an important factor for people’s positive feedback in their own living environment. Acoustic comfort and noise exposure should then be carefully monitored in all human settlements. Furthermore, it is already well-known that high or prolonged noise levels may lead to unwanted health effects. Unfortunately, while in the last decades scientists and public authorities have investigated the noise produced by roads, trains, and airports, not enough efforts have been spent in studying what happens around the coastal and port areas. Following the attention brought to the subject by recent European projects on noise in port areas, the present paper characterizes the sound power level and 1/3 octave band sound power spectrum of seagoing ships while moving at low speeds. Five different categories have been distinguished: Roll-on/roll-off (RORO), container ship, oil tanker, chemical tanker, and ferry. The analysis is based on a continuous noise measurement lasting more than three months, performed in the industrial canal of the port of Livorno (Italy). The resulting noise emissions are new and useful data that could be inserted in acoustic propagation models to properly assess the noise in the areas affected by port activities. Thus, the present work can act as a supporting tool in planning ship traffic in ports towards better sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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17 pages, 1883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Global Protectionism on Port Logistics Demand

and

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041444 - 15 Feb 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4267

Abstract

Various risks and uncertainties are strengthening the downside of the global economy. This paper aims to estimate the impact of the US–China conflict and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body’s shutdown on global logistics demand and to show the seriousness of the situation. Existing literature studies on protectionism or the US–China trade conflict were considered, with a focus on the effects of specific issues or impact on bilateral relations. No research has quantitatively considered the adverse effects of the Appellate Body’s shutdown. In this situation, questions can be raised whether the current global shipping logistics system can be sustainable or not. This paper attempts to estimate the shrinking demand for shipping logistics due to global protectionism. Using a dynamic general equilibrium model and trade-cargo-container conversion methodology, which differentiates this paper from previous studies, the paper suggests that the combination of tariffs and NTBs can severely reduce international trade and the demand for maritime logistics services. Depending on the scenario, port cargo is expected to decrease by 3.95 to 6.9 trillion tons, which can be half of the global cargo. Based on these estimates, this paper suggests that a catastrophe could occur in global trade order as well as global maritime logistics. Finally, underlining that the international trade order should not be severely damaged, this paper proposes that countries around the world should seriously discuss this issue at the 12th WTO Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Kazakhstan in June 2020. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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16 pages, 1825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Perception and Property Value: Evidence from Tianjin Port Explosion

Yaoxuan Huang

Tsz Leung Yip

and

Cong Liang

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031169 - 06 Feb 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3273

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the perceived risk after the Tianjin port explosion event and its impact on property value. In addition to focusing on the relationship between homebuyers’ risk perception and property sales price, this paper also considers the risk perception of property sellers via the sale-to-list ratio. By using the difference-in-differences method and the sample from the property agent, we found that the explosion event generated a long-time effect on the public and property market in the city of Tianjin. Relative to those properties far away from the explosion site, the sales price and the sale-to-list ratio of the property near the explosion site were detected to have significant drops for the first six months after the explosion event. The temporal decrease of the relative sales price and the sale-to-list ratio are the evidence of short period overreaction from the public, which decays over time. This study demonstrates an indirect method to estimate the perceived risk of the general public and provides valuable insight into sustainable port management policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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18 pages, 2005 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Time Reliability of the Maritime Transportation Network for China’s Crude Oil Imports

Shuang Wang

Jing Lu

and

Liping Jiang

Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010198 - 25 Dec 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2874

Abstract

To evaluate the transportation time reliability of the maritime transportation network for China’s crude oil imports under node capacity variations resulting from extreme events, a framework incorporating bi-level programming and a Monte Carlo simulation is proposed in this paper. Under this framework, the imported crude oil volume from each source country is considered to be a decision variable, and may change in correspondence to node capacity variations. The evaluation results illustrate that when strait or canal nodes were subject to capacity variations, the network transportation time reliability was relatively low. Conversely, the transportation time reliability was relatively high when port nodes were under capacity variations. In addition, the Taiwan Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Malacca were identified as vulnerable nodes according to the transportation time reliability results. These results can assist government decision-makers and tanker company strategic planners to better plan crude oil import and transportation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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20 pages, 1307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of the Increasingly Strict Sulfur Limit on Compliance Option Choices: The Case Study of Chinese SECA

Lixian Fan

and

Bingmei Gu

Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010165 - 24 Dec 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2873

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has proposed several environmental regulations on controlling SO_x and NO_x emissions from ships in coastal areas. Under the framework of IMO, some areas have established strict emission control areas (ECAs) to reduce emissions, which mainly contain Europe and North America. To further strengthen the control and supervision over air pollutants from shipping activities, the Sulfur cap regulation of 0.5% by mass will come into effect on 1 January, 2020 globally, when all the sailing vessels on the high sea should use fuels with sulfur content less than 0.5%. This limit is stricter for the global recognized sulfur emission control areas (SECAs), where it was 0.1% since 1 January 2015. However, Chinese local SECA lags behind the globally recognized SECAs, where the 0.5% Sulfur cap was implemented from 2016 and it has to be strengthened along with the global sulfur cap 2020. These increasingly stringent emission regulations have huge effects on shipping operators. The current study discusses the potential impacts of the stricter sulfur cap on operators’ compliance option choices, where fuel-switching and scrubber system are analyzed under different sulfur limits. Meanwhile, the slow steaming practice is incorporated into the fuel-switching option by considering speed differentiation in different sulfur limit areas. This study develops a cost-minimizing model using NPV (net present value) method. It analyzes the optimal option within vessels’ lifespan considering the tradeoff between the initial investment and future operational cost for newbuilding vessels based on a case study. In addition, emissions of CO₂ and SO_x are compared under different compliance options in different sulfur cap scenarios. Our results find that the scrubber system is a suitable option to comply with the 0.5% global sulfur limit, and a higher efficiency of sulfur abatement can be attained by the scrubber system option. However, it emits more carbon emissions due to higher energy consumption used by the scrubber system. In addition, the effects of additional vessels deployed in the cycle on the compliance choices are also demonstrated in the analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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27 pages, 742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Strategic Planning Approach for International Shipping Activities

Xiaofang Wu

Luoping Zhang

and

Huan Feng

Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010041 - 19 Dec 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3510

Abstract

Sustainability is a long-term and ultimate goal for international shipping, although it is slowly making progress. The shipping perspective that moves away from “port-to-port” operations to “door-to-door” services also requires international shipping to take a long-term and holistic view instead of fragmented efforts. How to achieve the long-term sustainability goal becomes a key issue for door-to-door international shipping. Hence, green strategic planning for door-to-door international shipping was proposed with green development that puts forward the eco-centric point of view as its basic theory for sustainability. This study used a strategic decision-making approach, a so-called multi-dimensional decision-making (MDDM), coupled with the life-cycle thinking and continual improvement of ISO 14000, to achieve strategic planning for door-to-door international shipping aiming at sustainability. A case study showed an example of potential framework and/or methodology for the door-to-door international shipping, which integrates green development principles into international shipping planning to reach the long-term goal of sustainability, and meet the needs of the “door-to-door” logistics. It not only points out the general environmental problems but also identifies many critical issues for sustainability in international shipping. As a result, this study developed an approach and methods for sustainable door-to-door international shipping based on the proactively strategic decision-making associated with green development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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21 pages, 714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of Sustainable Motorways of the Sea Services Multi-Criteria Analysis of a Croatian Port System

Dražen Žgaljić

Edvard Tijan

Alen Jugović

and

Tanja Poletan Jugović

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236827 - 02 Dec 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2710

Abstract

Motorways of the Sea present a practical example of combined and sustainable transport. With respect to the present model of functionality of the transport system in the Republic of Croatia, where the development of the port and of the gravitational transport system is left to each individual port (six independent ports), and where there is no systematic approach to specialization of each port or route, the results of the analysis are not promising. The goal of this research is to explain why the current Motorways of the Sea implementation model is inefficient and unsustainable. The analysis shows that a scientific approach to multicriteria analysis, which includes the identification of all relevant factors, the analysis of the transport infrastructure, as well as the identification of criteria which could potentially affect the Motorways of the Sea system, can correctly define the optimal model for the implementation of a sustainable Motorways of the Sea system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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19 pages, 1986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tramp Ship Routing and Scheduling with Speed Optimization Considering Carbon Emissions

Houming Fan

Jiaqi Yu

and

Xinzhe Liu

Sustainability 2019, 11(22), 6367; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226367 - 13 Nov 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3493

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) proposed to reduce the total CO₂ emissions of the maritime sector by 50% by 2050, and strive to gradually achieve the zero-carbon target. Therefore, shipping companies need to consider environmental impacts while pursuing benefits. In view of the tramp ship scheduling with speed optimization problem, considering carbon emissions, the configuration of owner ships and charter ships, and the impact of sailing speed on ship scheduling with the target of minimizing the total costs of shipping companies, multi-type tramp ship scheduling and speed optimization considering carbon emissions is established. A genetic simulated annealing algorithm based on a variable neighborhood search is proposed to solve the problem. Firstly, the ship type is matched with the cargo. Then the route is generated according to the time constraint, and finally, the neighborhood search strategy is adopted to improve the solution quality. The effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm is verified by an example, which also confirms that ship scheduling and sailing speed joint optimization can reduce costs and carbon emissions. Research results can not only deepen the study of the theory of tramp scheduling but also to effectively solve the tramp shipping schedule considering carbon emissions problems faced by companies to provide theoretical guidance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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15 pages, 1006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying the Main Opportunities and Challenges from the Implementation of a Port Energy Management System: A SWOT/PESTLE Analysis

Anastasia Christodoulou

and

Kevin Cullinane

Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 6046; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216046 - 31 Oct 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 38191

Abstract

Climate change is among the greatest environmental threats facing the globe today and the abatement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is concerning all the industrial sectors contributing to the problem. The maritime transport sector has already implemented several measures for energy efficiency for the reduction of its GHG emissions, including both vessels and ports. This paper focuses on the prospects and challenges facing the development of a port energy management system. It analyzes the main factors which exert an impact on such a plan and that need to be taken into account for its successful implementation. A SWOT/PESTLE analysis is utilized for the identification of the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors that have a positive or negative effect on the adoption and successful implementation of a port energy management system. This analysis is based on empirical data from two leading North-European port authorities. Given the fact that ports are currently focusing on the reduction of their energy consumption, this paper’s results have particular significance in that they could enlighten and inform the adoption of a port energy management plan within ports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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21 pages, 1042 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Coupled Risk of Key Nodes in Maritime Transport Based on Improved Catastrophe Theory

Baode Li

Jing Li

and

Jing Lu

Sustainability 2019, 11(17), 4640; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174640 - 26 Aug 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2314

Abstract

Defining the degree of risk of maritime transport nodes is an important basis for studying the security status of maritime transport passages. However, some important straits or canals are key nodes in the maritime transport passage, and their system security conditions are affected by the interaction of uncertainty risk factors. This study addresses the issue of the security status of transport nodes from the perspective of the characteristics of influencing factors. With a focus on catastrophes and the mutual coupling characteristics of the factors that influence the security of maritime transport nodes, a model based on principal component analysis (PCA) and catastrophe theory (CT) is constructed, and the coupled risk degree of the key nodes in Chinese maritime transportation is empirically analysed. The results show that the Taiwan Strait has the lowest risk degree and that the Windward Strait has the highest risk degree among the key nodes in Chinese maritime transport. From the perspective of the security status of these key nodes, most nodes are currently in a stable and safe state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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18 pages, 2185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Port Efficiency Incorporating Service Measurement Variables by the BiO-MCDEA: Brazilian Case

Renata Machado de Andrade

and

Sustainability 2019, 11(16), 4340; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11164340 - 11 Aug 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2833

Abstract

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has many advantages for analyzing the efficiency of decision-making units, as well as drawbacks, such as a lack of discrimination power. This study applied bi-objective multiple-criteria data envelopment analysis (BiO-MCDEA), a programming approach used to overcome the limitations of traditional DEA models, to analyze the efficiency of 20 Brazilian ports with a consideration of six input and one output variables from 2010 to 2016. Two time-related variables were included to reflect current problems faced by Brazilian ports experiencing long wait times. The results reveal a significant disparity in port efficiency among Brazilian ports. The top five most efficient ports are those with the highest cargo throughput. A clustering analysis also confirmed a strong correlation between cargo throughput and port efficiency scores. Total time of stay, pier length, and courtyard also had strong correlations with the efficiency scores. The clustering method divided Brazilian ports into three groups: efficient ports, medium efficient ports, and inefficient ports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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12 pages, 1253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Shared Container Transportation Mode in the Yangtze River

Daozheng Huang

and

Gang Zhao

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2886; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102886 - 21 May 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2971

Abstract

Sharing economy is an emerging concept that has been implemented in several industries and has achieved huge success. Novel solutions, built on the emerging concept of sharing economy, such as Uber, Didi, Mobike, and Cargostream, offer unprecedented opportunities for maritime organizations to reform traditional water transportation. This paper presents an analysis framework of a shared container transportation mode to show the restrictions and benefit of the implementation of the concept of sharing economy in maritime transportation. As a typical inland water area in China, the Yangtze River is selected as the study area. A general shared container transportation framework is designed, including a new waiting mode, business process, and software platform system design. The new business process is developed to overcome the contradiction between the new shared container transportation mode and the traditional shipping process. The potential of the new mode is also discussed. It would contribute to the sustainability of maritime transportation with respect to energy saving. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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14 pages, 1159 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Transshipment Container Terminals’ Service Quality in Vietnam: From the Shipping Companies’ Perspective

Thi Yen Pham

and

Gi-Tae Yeo

Sustainability 2019, 11(5), 1503; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051503 - 12 Mar 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5696

Abstract

Vietnam is a popular production base for multi-national companies and has become a hub for the global supply chain. Accordingly, to facilitate the increased demands on transportation and to satisfy customers’ complicated requirements, more attention has been paid to the service quality of container terminals. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the service quality of transshipment container terminals in Vietnam from the perspective of shipping companies. The Consistent Fuzzy Preference Relation (CFPR) method has been introduced to solve multi-criteria service quality problems using both empirical data and expert knowledge. The results of this study illustrate that terminal accessibility and the proximity to a main trunk route are most important among the principal factors and sub-factors. Additionally, the TCIT terminal’s service quality ranks first among the top five container terminals in Vietnam. This study provides stakeholders with insight into competitive factors and risk factors for container terminals and their overall quality of service. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)

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