Global Shipping Industry Research Articles

Evaluating eco-economic benefits of anchoring and drifting under government sulfur emission policies

Driven by global sulphur strategy, reducing sulfur emissions from the global shipping industry is of great significance for achieving sustainable development goals related to addressing climate change. This study explores the impact of government sulfur emission policies on the choice of mooring modes, include anchoring and drifting, for shipping lines. In this study, a bi-level programming model is constructed and linearized to minimize the total vessel emissions in emission control areas during the planning horizon and the total cost of each type of vessel. The leader of this model is the department that issues regulations and decides on the anchorage to regulate whether marine gas oil must be used. The followers are the shipping lines that execute transportation tasks and choose whether a vessel will anchor or drift. In addition, many numerical experiments and sensitivity analysis are conducted, and data and theoretical support for relevant decision-making are provided.

Shipping going green

James McKenzie looks at the global shipping industry which is making amazing progress on decarbonization.

Quantitative analysis of toxicity risks in the operation of ammonia-fueled tugboats

As efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions in the global shipping industry intensify, people are constantly looking for new types of energy to replace traditional fuels. Ammonia is considered a novel energy source due to its potential for carbon-neutral shipping when produced from renewable energy sources and is extremely promising for the shipping industry. In this study, the fuel toxicity risk of ammonia-fueled ships under operating conditions was quantified for the first time. The assessment process adopts the traditional quantitative risk assessment (QRA) framework with accident probability calculations based on Bayesian theory, and the process of partial quantification of consequences also guides the delineation of safety zones. The results of the study suggest that ammonia-powered tugboats are at a higher risk of toxic accidents during operation than accidents at sea, but both are within the acceptable limits of current international maritime safety and environmental standards. Finally, safety measures and risk mitigation strategies are proposed based on the study results. This provides important support in safety risk analysis for the design, production and operation of subsequent ammonia fueled vessels and is of great theoretical and practical importance.

Manning Agencies Recruitment Process in Tanzania: Challenges and Strategies

The shortage of qualified seafarers has already been identified as a global issue that is more likely to worsen in the immediate future. Thus, increasing attention needs to be given to the challenges that recruitment process of qualified seafarers encounter in order to stabilize the flow of skilled crew to the global shipping industry. Therefore, the aim this paper is to discuss the challenges facing manning agencies in recruitment process which is one of the key emerging sources of crew supply to the global shipping industry and finally to propose some strategies for the solutions. This study used a descriptive and interpretive research design, employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Various data collection methods, including interviews, questionnaires, and document analysis, were used. Specifically, a case study research involving the DMI manning agency is used to highlight the challenges confronting the current recruitment process of Seafarers in Tanzania. With regards to recruitments it was found out that skills shortage, competition from other industries, document's validity as well as new technologies and regulations are pertinent issues that need to be addressed by manning agencies in Tanzania. This study recommends that the manning agencies should launch joint training programs with various maritime Institutes and Universities involved in the training of seafarers by investing in the acquisition of learning resources and equipment. This will enable manning agencies to obtain competent and qualified seafarers as will feed information to institutes on the market need hence training institutes to train with respect to the market needs.

Effective analysis of remote ship inspection in Asia-Pacific region and its impact on shipping trade under COVID-19

ABSTRACT In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global shipping industry has faced unprecedented challenges, necessitating rapid adaptations in regulatory practices and inspection methodologies to ensure the continuity of trade and maritime safety. Remote port state control (PSC) involves the use of technology to monitor, regulate, and manage the activities and compliance of vessels in a port’s jurisdiction without the need for physical boarding or inspection. This study examines the effectiveness of remote PSC inspections within the Asia-Pacific region and assesses their impact on shipping trade during the pandemic. Utilizing a comprehensive analysis of data from remote inspections conducted under the auspices of the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), this research identifies key factors influencing the efficacy of such inspections and their implications for regulatory compliance and maritime safety. Through a methodological blend of quantitative analysis and qualitative evaluation, the study explores how remote inspections have been critical in maintaining operational integrity and safety standards amidst global disruptions. The findings highlight the role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in facilitating these adaptations, alongside the challenges and opportunities of remote inspection practices. This research contributes to the ongoing maritime safety and regulation discourse, offering insights into the potential for remote inspections to complement traditional methods in a post-pandemic world.

Modelling environmental life cycle performance of alternative marine power configurations with an integrated experimental assessment approach: A case study of an inland passenger barge

There is pressure on the global shipping industry to move towards greener propulsion and fuel technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen and electricity are both recognised as pathways to achieve a net-zero. However, in the evaluation of the environmental performance of these alternative marine power configurations, conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) methods have limitations reflecting the varied nature of ship design and operational modes. The integration of LCA with experimental assessment could remedy the shortcoming of conventional approaches to data generation. The system energy demand data in this study was generated based on specific ship design and directly fed into life cycle assessment. To demonstrate the effectiveness and potential the approach was applied to a case study of inland waterway vessel. Suitable hybrid PV/electricity/diesel and hydrogen powered fuel cell systems for the case vessel were modelled; and hydrodynamic testing and dynamic system simulation was undertaken to provide ship performance data under various operational/environmental profiles. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) indicated hydrogen and electrical propulsion technologies have the potential for 85.7 % and 56.2 % emissions reduction against an MGO base case, respectively. The results highlight that implementation of both technologies is highly dependent on energy production pathways. Hydrogen systems reliant on fossil feedstocks risk an increase in emissions of up to 6.3 % against the MGO base case. Sensitivity analysis indicated an electrical system with electricity production from 79.5 % renewables could achieve savings of 82.2 % in GHG emissions compared to the MGO base case. Crucially, the results demonstrate a further development of the LCA approach which can enable a more accurate environmental performance evaluation of alternative marine power configurations considering specific ship design and operational characteristics. Ultimately this addition makes the results more meaningful for commercial operations and decision making in the selection of alternative marine power systems to support the transition to net-zero.

Spatio-temporal Spread of Disruptions in Interconnected Supply Networks

Abstract. The article investigates the spatio-temporal propagation of disruption effects in supply networks using shipment data from an international retailer during the year of 2021, marked by various disruptions in the global shipping industry. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the blockage of the Suez Canal caused significant disruptions, including congestion and temporary shutdowns of ports. The network effect of such disruptions is measured as network connectivity using node strength in a weighted graph. Analysis of the data reveals a decrease in mean traveling speed and an unexpected decrease in speed variation following the Suez Canal blockage. The impact of the typhoon in China, while notable, was less significant than that of port closures due to COVID-19, likely due to its shorter duration. Evaluation of the spatio-temporal spread indicates, that port shutdowns due to COVID affected some routes from Asia to Europe and Australia, while others remained unaffected, potentially due to company-specific factors or differing supply patterns in various destinations. Future research aims to extend the analysis to include hinterland transportation to distribution centers and stores, where clearer spatio-temporal patterns may emerge, potentially confirmed through tests for spatio-temporal autocorrelation.

Developed Status and Forecast of Intelligent Ship Application

The concept of smart ships is not limited to ship autonomous driving, it covers a broader scope, including the full life cycle of ship design, construction, operation and maintenance. By integrating advanced sensors, navigation systems and data analysis platforms, smart ships are able to monitor ship status and the Marine environment in real time, optimize route planning and improve fuel efficiency, thereby reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, smart ships can revolutionize the shipping industry by improving maritime safety and reducing human error through remote control and autonomous decision-making. In recent years, smart ship technology has gradually moved from the theoretical research stage to practical application, and has attracted wide attention from the global shipping industry. A number of international cooperation and research projects have been launched to explore the practical application potential and promotion paths of smart ships. However, the development of smart ships also faces many challenges, including technical difficulties, legal and regulatory restrictions, and public acceptance issues. This paper will deeply discuss the current development status of smart ships, analyze the main challenges it faces, and forecast the future development trend, in order to provide reference and inspiration for the innovative development of the shipping industry.

Evaluating Competitiveness of Container Shipping Operators in the Sustainability and Digitalization Era

This study aims to comprehensively analyze the operational status and international competitiveness of global container shipping enterprises in the era of sustainability and digitalization within the field of international container transportation. Utilizing the entropy method, this study quantitatively evaluates the direct operational strength of 14 leading container shipping enterprises while considering multiple factors including environmental protection, service quality, company scale, customer satisfaction, research and development level, and brand influence. The contributions of this study to the existing knowledge are primarily manifested in several aspects: firstly, by constructing a comprehensive evaluation framework, it offers a new perspective for assessing the international competitiveness of container shipping enterprises, facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, this study emphasizes the crucial roles of environmental protection and customer service in the competitiveness of shipping enterprises, providing new strategic directions for the industry’s sustainable development and digital transformation. Lastly, through detailed analysis of the operational performance of different companies, this study provides specific improvement suggestions for shipping enterprises, aiding them in achieving more precise management and more efficient development. The research findings demonstrate that companies exhibit varied performance in different aspects, showcasing their respective strengths and challenges. Particularly, this study identifies leading enterprises that have made significant progress in environmental technology innovation and customer service, while also highlighting deficiencies in some companies regarding scale expansion and brand building. These findings not only offer valuable insights for the development of the shipping industry but also serve as a window for policymakers, investors, and consumers to gain a deeper understanding of the shipping market. Through the thorough analysis conducted in this study, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development and digital transformation of the global container shipping industry.

CargoLinker: Streamlined Container Booking App

The global shipping and logistics industry play a vital role in facilitating international trade, yet small-scale exporters often face challenges in booking cargo container space efficiently. CargoLinker is a web and mobile application designed to bridge this gap, connecting exporters with available cargo container space in a streamlined manner. It is developed using an open source framework named Flutter , CargoLinker aims to enhance the efficiency and affordability of cargo shipping for small-scale exporters. The main aim of this application is to minimize the cost for small traders and maximize the profit for the company. This paper presents an overview of CargoLinker, its features, benefits, development process, challenges, and future directions

Tackling Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Interactions Between Global Shipping and Ghanaian State Agents

ABSTRACT Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is a challenge that straddles multiple players and sectors, and crimes like piracy cause disruptions to international trade and shipping. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global shipping industry tried to keep maritime security on the agenda, while advocating for global security assemblages, specifically, transnational policing initiatives as part of the maritime security governance. Using the notion of narratives and assemblage thinking, it is argued that although global shipping and Ghanaian state agents agree on the problem, they differ on which maritime security governance infrastructure to deploy, resulting in tensions between the two parties.

Merchant Fleet Performance of Türkiye: A CRITIC-based TOPSIS Approach

The study focuses on assessing the merchant fleet performance of Türkiye, a country surrounded by seas on three sides and holding a pivotal position in global logistics networks. It considers mean age of vessels, total carrying capacity in dead weight tons, and the number of ships as indicators influencing Türkiye’s merchant fleet performance, with the importance weights of these indicators determined using the CRITIC method. Based on the determined weights, Türkiye’s merchant fleet performance for the years 2011-2023 is evaluated using the TOPSIS method. The findings reveal that mean age of vessels emerges as the indicator with the highest importance weight. The analysis indicates an improvement in Türkiye’s fleet performance between 2011 and 2013, followed by a subsequent decline from 2013 onwards. Notably, there is a significant shift observed in 2016 across all three indicators. Given Türkiye’s aging fleet, the study suggests a focus on acquiring young and high-capacity vessels to enhance fleet performance. This strategic approach can help Türkiye optimize its maritime trade capability and maintain competitiveness in the global shipping industry.

The New Requirements for International Seafarers' Comprehensive Quality due to the Large-scale and Intelligent Development of Ships

The global shipping industry is undergoing significant transformations with the large-scale and intelligent evolution of ships, which poses new demands on the skills and responsibilities of seafarers. This article explores how these trends affect the skill requirements of seafarers, including mastery of advanced technology, data analysis capabilities, safety management, emergency response, and communication and collaboration. As ship sizes increase and intelligent technologies are widely applied, the ways of navigational operations and management are undergoing revolutionary changes. Seafarers must enhance their skills to adapt to the new work environment and meet the rapid changes in the shipping industry. This article aims to provide guidance for seafarer training and education, helping them successfully face these new challenges.

Research and Development of Inland Green and Smart Ship Technologies in China

Nowadays, the development of green and smart ships has become a trend in the global shipping industry. Some countries such as Japan and Korea, as well as several European countries, have already made some progress and advantages. In recent years, China has issued a series of policies to encourage and support the development of green and smart ships. Beyond that, the demonstration of green and smart ships has been promoted along with the trend of larger-sized and standardized inland vessels. The Chinese status and plans of green technologies are summarized including air layer drag reduction, efficient propulsion, DC networking, and clean energy. Some smart technologies have also been illustrated, for instance, intelligent driving, intelligent engine rooms, energy efficiency, hulls, cargo control, and information integration. Smart ship technologies need to be fully validated in order to improve industrialization applications. In the shipping industry, the development and application of smart ship technology need international and inter-regional cooperation, so as to achieve much higher energy savings, ensure environmental protection, achieve collaborative intelligence, and ensure safety and reliability. In turn, this will aid economic advances worldwide.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessments and Economic Analyses of Alternative Marine Fuels: Insights for Practical Strategies

The growth of the global shipping industry has increased the interest in the environmental impact of this sector. The International Maritime Organization adopted the initial Greenhouse Gas strategy for reducing GHG emissions from ships at the 72nd Marine Environment Protection Committee in April 2018. In this study, we carried out a life cycle assessment of nine production pathways of alternative fuels, including LNG, ammonia, methanol, and biofuels, and conducted an economic analysis considering the life cycle carbon pricing of each fuel pathway. Our results indicate that biomass-based FT-diesel, e-methanol, and e-ammonia are the most environmentally friendly, with GHG reductions of 92%, 88.2%, and 86.6%, respectively. However, our net present value analysis of ship life cycle cost considering carbon price indicated that using those fuels would not be cost-effective during the target period of study. Sensitivity analysis was performed by changing the life cycle carbon pricing from the baseline scenario, and we investigated the approximate years for when these alternative fuels will become more cost-effective compared to conventional fossil fuels. Further, to provide practical implications for shipping stakeholders, we analysed the effect of blending the same kinds of fuels with different production pathways.

Using a bottom-up method to assess cruise ship activity impacts on emissions during 2019–2020 in China

COVID-19 has had a serious impact on the development of the global shipping industry, especially since the impact on the cruise tourism industry was unprecedented. This study took cruise ships sailing in China ECA, China Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Yangtze River main line, and Xijiang River main line Chinese waters as an example to analyze the key changes in cruise ship emissions during the pandemic. Automatic identification system (AIS) data, vessel static data, and emission control regional data are used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cruise ship emissions from multiple perspectives such as a port-to-regional comparison. As such, a vessel emission model (i.e., a bottom-up method) is constructed in this research for predicting China ECA and EEZ cruise ship emissions. Compared with 2019, the cruise activities sailing in China's Emission Control Area (ECA) are mainly at berth, and the emissions of cruise ships have dropped significantly, with SOx emissions reduced by 59.11%. In addition, this study also calculates the carbon emissions of China's regional cruises, supplementing China's cruise carbon pool. The research results suggest that cruise operators may improve fuel efficiency, decrease vessel speed, improve routing and scheduling, and enhance fleet management in order to further mitigate the negative effects of the cruise tourism industry on the marine environment.

An AIS-based deep learning model for multi-task in the marine industry

Automatic Identification System (AIS) plays an essential role in maritime surveillance and the global shipping industry. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances, almost all marine-related application needs can be realized by mining AIS Big Data. Most of the research, however, is still developing an AIS-based AI model for a specific task. When facing complex maritime applications, a large number of AI models are required. How to deploy these single-function AI models has become extremely challenging. Considering the distinctive characteristics of AIS data, this paper develops an AIS-based deep learning model for forecasting, classification, anomaly detection, and imputation in the maritime industry. This paper uses hierarchical blocks to ensure the expressive power and generalization ability, employs signal decomposition methods and processes the decomposed data like image processing. Finally, experiments have been conducted in both publicly available datasets and the dataset established in this paper. The performance of state-of-the-art models has been compared with the proposed model and the results shows that our approach can yield optimal results, including the optimal mean squared error in the forecasting task and imputation task, the accuracy in the anomaly detection task, and the category accuracy in the classification task, on our curated dataset.

Towards carbon neutrality in shipping: Impact of European Union's emissions trading system for shipping and China's response

Global climate change and the rising volume of world trade have made achieving carbon neutrality in shipping essential for meeting the temperature control targets outlined in the Paris Agreement. Consequently, the European Union (EU) has emerged as a strong advocate for carbon neutrality in shipping and is integrating the shipping industry into its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to enable decarbonisation. The EU's unilateral measure is expected to trigger a series of reactions from the global shipping industry. As a result, China, both a major shipping country and developing nation, could potentially attract significant international attention. This study examines the EU ETS for shipping from the perspective of international law. On one hand, the "Kyoto Protocol" does not exclude parties other than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from taking unilateral measures to address the issue of carbon emissions from shipping. Furthermore, in accordance with the principle of national territorial sovereignty stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the EU has the right to reduce shipping emissions only within its national jurisdiction. Therefore, the EU has the legal authority to adopt an ETS for shipping, but the effectiveness of its extraterritorial jurisdiction lacks the support of international law. However, since the EU ETS for shipping applies to all ships without distinction, it may potentially violate the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which could have negative implications for the shipping industry in developing countries. This study focuses on China as the research subject and offers potential solutions for the country when addressing the EU ETS for shipping.

Employment Practices, Cost Minimization, and Their Implications for Food Provisions and Seafarers' Wellbeing on board Ships - A Qualitative Analysis.

The global shipping industry, responsible for delivering over 70% of the world's goods (in volume), has increasingly adopted cost minimization policies, contributing to precarious employment practices that adversely affect seafarers' wellbeing. This study focuses on the intricate relationship between employment precarity and food provision on cargo ships. By presenting seafarers' perspectives, we aim to understand how precarious employment practices and cost minimization in the industry influence power dynamics related to food and impact seafarers' wellbeing. Drawing on empirical data collected through shipboard observations and interviews with seafarers, this study examines the often-overlooked experiences and perspectives of seafarers. The research sheds light on the precarity of employment in shipping and its inherent impact on the provision of food on board and its implications for seafarers' physical and emotional health, including the availability of nutritious and sufficient food and its impact on their daily lives. Through in-depth interviews, seafarers' insights into their experiences of food including the quality, availability, and cultural appropriateness of food on board are explored, as well as the standard of training for cooks. Through this research, we found substandard conditions on some of the ships, cost-focused decision-making, and lack of standardized food preparation practices on board. These findings underline the need for improved regulations, better training opportunities, and increased consideration for seafarers' wellbeing. These changes are essential to ensure the provision of adequate and nutritious meals that promote the physical and mental health of seafarers on board ships. Specifically, the research underscores the need for policy and advocacy initiatives to improve seafarers' lives and promote fair working conditions in the global shipping industry. By amplifying the voices of seafarers and providing evidence-based insights, this study contributes to the larger discourse on workers' rights and the importance of decent working conditions. It calls for greater attention to the provision of adequate, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food on board cargo ships, recognizing its significance for seafarers' physical and mental wellbeing, as well as a call for standardized training for ship's cooks.

Institutional system of execution of cross-border leasing agreements; legal assessment of bareboat charter conditions

This article is devoted to the variety of legal relationships in the system of cross-border relations between charterers and charterers of ships. Leasing in the global shipping industry takes on a variety of forms, depending on the sources of financing. The current state of the market is conducive to taking advantage of bareboat charter, known for its inherent tructurality, as well as the legal rigor with which the contracts are qualified for real and consensual. The systematic nature of its regulations concerning the conflictof-laws aspects of the form and procedure for concluding a transaction is reflected in international standards prepared by BIMCO and BARECON, which, however, does not interfere with the self-sufficiency of leasing companies, in this regard, especially if they consider bareboat charter as a source of attracting fixed assets. The need for their depreciation, payment of intangible assets also makes the practice of insurance relevant. Keywords: leasing transaction, vessel chartering, ex