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Transdisciplinary Approach in Sustainable Shipping: Transition to a Zero-Emission Maritime Industry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2091

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Civil, Maritime, and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Southampton, and the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), Southampton, UK
Interests: sustainable maritime industry; net zero emissions; alternative fuels; energy efficiency; shipyards and ports as energy hubs; mitigation of Underwater Radiate Noise (URN) from commercial vessels; Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)

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Guest Editor
Department of Maritime Studies, School of Maritime & Industrial Studies, University of Piraeus, 18533 Piraeus, Greece
Interests: sustainable shipping; maritime decarbonisation; sustainable blue economy; green ports
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The maritime industry is vital to global human wellbeing, yet it also generates significant environmental externalities. Among these, achieving zero emissions across the industry’s value chain—including shipyards, vessels, and ports—is a top priority. As the industry reaches a pivotal moment in its transition towards sustainability, a holistic, systematic, and transdisciplinary approach is essential.

This Special Issue invites studies that explore a zero-emission maritime sector with a comprehensive focus on the entire value chain. We invite contributions that share insights from engineering, environmental science, economics, policy, and social sciences. Topics of interest include sustainable shipbuilding practices, advancements in green ship technologies, port decarbonization strategies, and the policy frameworks necessary to drive the transition to zero-emission shipping.

Our goal is to provide a transdisciplinary perspective on how the maritime industry can achieve its sustainability targets and contribute meaningfully to global decarbonization efforts. We welcome submissions of original research, review articles, and case studies that offer both practical and theoretical insights into this critical transition. Research areas of particular interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Advanced propulsion systems;
  • Alternative fuels;
  • Automation;
  • Carbon abatement technologies;
  • Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS);
  • Digitalization ;
  • Energy efficiency measures;
  • New energy carriers;
  • Energy transition in shipping;
  • Green technologies;
  • Global and regional policies for sustainable shipping;
  • Economic incentives ;
  • Lifecycle assessment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Seyedvahid Vakili
Dr. Anastasia Christodoulou
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 practices
  • maritime decarbonization
  • green shipyards
  • ports as energy hubs
  • zero-emission shipping

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3011 KiB  
Article
Towards Decarbonization: Sustainable Incentives in a Price-Competitive Maritime Supply Chain with Environmentally Conscious Shippers
by Lijuan Yang, Fangcheng Liao and Yong He
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052030 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 465
Abstract
Transitioning carriers to low-emission technologies requires huge investment, and subsidies have proven to be efficient tools in overcoming cost barriers. In this study, game-theoretic models were formulated to study the impact of subsidies on carbon emissions reduction with green shippers in a price-competitive [...] Read more.
Transitioning carriers to low-emission technologies requires huge investment, and subsidies have proven to be efficient tools in overcoming cost barriers. In this study, game-theoretic models were formulated to study the impact of subsidies on carbon emissions reduction with green shippers in a price-competitive environment. Equilibrium solutions for three scenarios were derived through model analysis, followed by numerical analyses. The results indicate the following: (1) Government subsidies are effective and advantageous for decarbonization with carrier competition but will lower service prices, profits, and social welfare. (2) Intensified price competition leads to increases in carbon emissions, service prices, and social welfare while decreasing demands and profits in some scenarios. (3) Shippers’ green preferences have a positive effect on carbon emission reduction, profits, and social welfare. These findings provide valuable managerial insights for both the government and shipping companies in promoting a more sustainable environment. Full article
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22 pages, 4256 KiB  
Article
Roadmap for the Decarbonization of Domestic Passenger Ferries in the Republic of Korea
by Tuan Dong, Anas Alamoush, Alessandro Schönborn, Peyman Ghaforian Masodzadeh, Chybyung Park, Han-Seon Park, Seyedvahid Vakili, Levent Bilgili, Fabio Ballini and Aykut I. Ölcer
Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1545; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041545 - 13 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1204
Abstract
This study examines the steps to lower air emissions in South Korea’s domestic shipping sector. It highlights the significant contributions of the sector to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing its impact on environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. By looking at [...] Read more.
This study examines the steps to lower air emissions in South Korea’s domestic shipping sector. It highlights the significant contributions of the sector to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing its impact on environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation. By looking at the current shipping energy use and emissions, the research identifies ways to reduce the environmental impact of domestic shipping. Data was collected from domestic ferry routes and the fuel use was reviewed with respect to existing global technologies for reducing emissions. The results show that operational changes and current energy-efficient technologies can quickly cut emissions. Furthermore, a long-term plan is suggested, involving the development of new ship designs and the use of net-zero fuels like biofuels, methanol, hydrogen and ammonia. These efforts aim to meet climate goals, targeting a 40% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030 and a 70% reduction by 2050, making South Korea’s shipping industry more sustainable and resilient. Full article
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