Global Transport Research Articles

Research on Marine English Teaching Mode based on Simulator: Innovative Method to Improve Students Practical Ability

With the rapid development of the global shipping industry, navigation English, as an important language of international shipping communication, its teaching quality directly affects the practical working ability of navigation practitioners. This paper discusses the navigation English teaching mode based on simulator, and improves students practical ability by introducing simulator teaching. The research shows that the simulator teaching not only significantly enhances the students language application ability, but also effectively improves their strain ability and operation level in the practical work. This innovative teaching method provides a new way for navigational English teaching, ensuring that students accumulate rich practical experience in a safe environment and laying a solid foundation for their future career development.

Reconstructing and assessing global maritime transport network: based on the Port Cargo Composite Transport index

ABSTRACT Solution to the problem of limited explanatory power of transport economics due to the homogenisation of existing the Global Maritime Transport Network (GMTN) construction indicators. By integrating the Port Cargo Composite Transport (PCCT) index and considering the volume-value mismatch relationship and the type and flow of cargo transported in ports, the GMTN can be reconstructed through a bottom-up logic. Combining the complex network, natural breaks, and point mutual information method with the Leiden and PageRank algorithm, the characteristics of the GMTN were derived from three aspects, i.e. network topology, node characteristics, and inter-node dependency. The GMTN presents the characteristics as follows. Community division presents typical geographical aggregation and industrial complementarity. Node characteristics show the classic phenomenon of rich people’s clubs, with obvious heavy-tailed distribution. Maritime transport linkage preferences present a phenomenon of geographical proximity, and their expansion can clarify the direction of the main links. Enhancing their maritime links will be more targeted to support the transport of trade cargoes. These findings help us to understand the characteristics of the international maritime trade pattern, and provide decision references for industry stakeholders to provide a strategic layout of maritime transport.

Microplastic Particles Contain Ice Nucleation Sites That Can Be Inhibited by Atmospheric Aging.

Recent research has shown that microplastics are widespread in the atmosphere. However, we know little about their ability to nucleate ice and their impact on ice formation in clouds. Ice nucleation by microplastics could also limit their long-range transport and global distribution. The present study explores the heterogeneous ice-nucleating ability of seven microplastic samples in immersion freezing mode. Two polypropylene samples and one polyethylene terephthalate sample froze heterogeneously with median freezing temperatures of -20.9, -23.2, and -21.9 °C, respectively. The number of ice nucleation sites per surface area, ns(T), ranged from 10-1 to 104 cm-2 in a temperature interval of -15 to -25 °C, which is comparable to that of volcanic ash and fungal spores. After exposure to ozone or a combination of UV light and ozone, simulating atmospheric aging, the ice nucleation activity decreased in some cases and remained unchanged in others. Our freezing data suggest that microplastics may promote ice formation in cloud droplets. In addition, based on a comparison of our freezing results and previous simulations using a global transport model, ice nucleation by microplastics will impact their long-range transport to faraway locations and global distribution.

Innovation of the global international ship registry system: Evolution process and future reforms

The innovation and governance of the global international ship registry system have become key to achieving sustainable development for maritime nations worldwide. For a long time, many maritime nations have chosen to fly flags of convenience for commercial or political reasons, causing major maritime nations to lose effective control over their fleets. To counteract the negative impacts of flags of convenience, major maritime nations have established international ship registry systems. This paper analyzes the development process and basic characteristics of the global international ship registry system, points out the main problems in its implementation, and proposes major directions for innovation and governance of the international ship registry system worldwide. By reviewing the development history of the global international ship registry system, evaluating key issues in its implementation, and constructing future reform and governance directions, this paper aims to provide policy innovation suggestions for the ship registry policy reforms of global maritime nations.

Research on the Improvement of Green Slow Traffic System under the Guidance of "Healthy City"

The rapid transformation of the world has changed the way people live. The level of urbanization is being saliently improved, material and civilization is becoming more and more abundant as well. Motor vehicles have reshaped our lifestyle. The mobile traffic-dominated planning thoughts has contributed to various problems such as disorder spread of cities, traffic congestion, aggravation of resource energy consumption, inclined allocation of social resources, and deterioration of urban health. In the evolution of urban slow traffic network in China, there are some problems such as the scale imbalance and the lack of humanistic care. In the situation of global low-carbon economic development, green travel and low-carbon transportation have been widely concerned. As a people-oriented, harmonious and low-carbon traditional green travel mode in the urban transportation system, slow traffic has once again become the focus of research. This paper will demonstrate the necessity of the development in slow traffic system under the concept of healthy city, combined with the current development status of slow traffic. The characteristics of green slow traffic system are analyzed from two aspects of goal-oriented (slow traffic subject) and demand-oriented (slow traffic activity). Then this paper will point out the problems existing in the current slow traffic and summarize the theoretical basis for improving the slow traffic environment. The strategic framework of improving the slow traffic system is constructed from the aspect of urban planning to promote healthy urban construction.

Marine pilots and the choreographic work of seaport mobilities

Research on cargomobilities has emphasised containerisation, algorithmic management, and the cost-driven calculus of logistics firms. Less visible is the necessary human labour that coordinates cargomobilities in challenging environments—for example, those workers who manoeuvre ships at seaports. In response, we take to the water to learn how ports function as spaces of everyday mobilities work. We follow a day in the working life of marine pilots—a specialist, locally-based workforce who board foreign-flagged ships to dock them safely. Their labour process is, we argue, a form of choreography: executing motions in correspondence with other workers, infrastructures, vessels, and environmental forces. Increasingly volatile oceanic conditions require technical knowledge of ships and guiding equipment, plus deep place-based knowledge of port idiosyncrasies and responsiveness to elemental forces—working with rather than against swell and wind, tides, channels, and weather. While global shipping becomes ever more cutthroat in pursuit of efficiencies, marine pilots choreograph mobilities with respect for earthly forces and the bulk and power of ships and seas, and thus perform the necessary infrastructural labour that offsets risk. Amidst worsening environmental hazards, we offer choreography as an analytical frame to centre the work, workers, collaboration, and more-than-human interactions underpinning mobilities.

A wind-to-wake approach for selecting future marine fuels and powertrains

Global shipping contributes (2.8%) to greenhouse gas emissions and needs to find future fuels which will allow the International Maritime organisation's 2050 net zero targets to be met. There is much uncertainty as to which fuels should be used between hydrogen, ammonia or methanol as future costs are uncertain. We propose and evaluate a Wind-to-Wake ratio that provides an objective measure based on the amount of renewable energy required to propel a ship. Time domain voyage energy demand profiles are used to simulate the fuel used and emissions for a cruise ship, a research survey vessel, a container ship and a large multi-fuel Liquefied Natural Gas carrier. Alternative ship power systems are investigated using various carbon-based fuels, ammonia and hydrogen either using conventional engines or fuel cells. For all voyage and fuel scenarios the combination of hydrogen and fuel cells uses 30% less renewable energy than ammonia and 26% less than methanol. Hydrogen only emits steam whereas the other fuel scenarios still emit significant amounts of greenhouse gasses.

Uncovering driving factors and spatiotemporal patterns of urban passenger car CO2 emissions: A case study in Hangzhou, China

While passenger cars offer the convenience of door-to-door travel, they are responsible for a substantial share of urban traffic-related carbon emissions, accounting for 44% of the global transport sector's emissions in 2022. Existing studies have not adequately identified the driving factors and spatiotemporal patterns of Passenger car CO2 Emissions (PCEs). To fill this gap, a comprehensive analytical framework for analysing PCE, encompassing several key components, has been developed. First, the PCE is estimated at a fine-grained level by utilising million-scale GPS trajectory data. Secondly, road network and urban functional features are extracted based on multi-source data, examining their nonlinear impacts on PCE. The driving factors of PCE during peak and off-peak periods are identified based on interpretable factor analysis. Finally, latent space clustering techniques are applied to reveal the spatiotemporal patterns of PCE, verified by significance tests. The effectiveness of this framework is demonstrated via a case study in Hangzhou, China. Notably, during peak hours, the driving factors of PCE are the road network's closeness centrality, service-related Points of Interest (POI) density, and trunk road density. In addition, five distinctive PCE patterns are identified. These findings facilitate the development of targeted and differentiated passenger car traffic management strategies, promoting carbon emission reduction in the transport sector.

Assessment of Economic Viability of Direct Current Fast Charging Infrastructure Investments for Electric Vehicles in the United States

As the global transportation sector increasingly adopts electric vehicles, the demand for advanced and accessible charging infrastructure is rising. In addition to at-home electric vehicle (EV) charging, there is a growing need for the swift development of commercial direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations to meet on-the-go EV charging demands. While government funds are available to support the expansion of the EV charging network in the United States, the establishment of a robust nationwide EV charging infrastructure requires significant private sector investment. This study was conducted to assess the economic feasibility of various business models for fast charging stations in the U.S. using two case studies and exploring different operational strategies including sole ownership and collaborative ventures with public and private entities. The results indicate that based on the current adoption and utilization rates in the U.S., the business model involving an owner-operator collaborating with a public partner ensures profitability and protects the investment in DCFC stations from financial losses. The study also highlights that demand charges and electricity retail prices are the factors that affect the profitability of a DCFC station.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Air Traffic Control and Air Traffic Management: A Review

The global air transportation system continues to be greatly impacted by operational changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. As air traffic management (ATM) focuses on balancing system capacity with demand, many facets of ATM and system operations more broadly were subjected to dramatic changes that deviate from pre-pandemic procedures. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when air travel became one of the first transport modes to be impacted by lockdown procedures and travel restrictions, a geographically diverse cohort of researchers began investigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on air navigation service providers, airline and airport operations, on-time performance, as well as airline network structure, connectivity, crew scheduling, and service impacts due to pilot and crew shortages. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of this aforementioned body of research literature published during one of the most tumultuous times in the history of aviation, specifically as it relates to air traffic management and air traffic control. We first organize the reviewed literature into three broad categories: strategic air traffic management and response, air traffic control and airport operational changes, and air traffic system resilience. Then, we highlight the main takeaways from each category. We emphasize specific findings that describe how various aspects of the air transportation systems could be improved in the domestic and global airline industry post-COVID. Lastly, we identify specific changes in operational procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest future industry trends as informed by the literature. We anticipate this review article to be of interest to a broad swath of aviation industry and intercity transportation audiences.

Multi-Scale Higher-Order Dependencies (MSHOD): Higher-Order Interactions Mining and Key Nodes Identification for Global Liner Shipping Network

Liner shipping accounts for over 80% of the global transportation volume, making substantial contributions to world trade and economic development. To advance global economic integration further, it is essential to link the flows of global liner shipping routes with the complex system of international trade, thereby supporting liner shipping as an effective framework for analyzing international trade and geopolitical trends. Traditional methods based on first-order global liner shipping networks, operating at a single scale, lack sufficient descriptive power for multi-variable sequential interactions and data representation accuracy among nodes. This paper proposes an effective methodology termed “Multi-Scale Higher-Order Dependencies (MSHOD)” that adeptly reveals the complexity of higher-order interactions among multi-scale nodes within the global liner shipping network. The key step of this method is to construct high-order dependency networks through multi-scale attributes. Based on the critical role of high-order interactions, a method for key node identification has been proposed. Experiments demonstrate that, compared to other methods, MSHOD can more effectively identify multi-scale nodes with regional dependencies. These nodes and their generated higher-order interactions could have transformative impacts on the network’s flow and stability. Therefore, by integrating multi-scale analysis methods to mine high-order interactions and identify key nodes with regional dependencies, this approach provides robust insights for assessing policy implementation effects, preventing unforeseen incidents, and revealing regional dual-circulation economic models, thereby contributing to strategies for global, stable development.

Shipping going green

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

Achieving the global net-zero maritime shipping goal: The urgencies, challenges, regulatory measures and strategic solutions

Maritime shipping emissions have been identified as a remaining issue and have been the key focus for a decade. This study systematically summarises the Imperatives, Challenges, Strategic Regulatory and R&D Measures based on our investigations and analysis. In addition to the strategies and measures we gathered and brought here for the goal of a clean maritime world, some tactical technology gaps were identified along with a breakthrough technology development idea to integrate marine vessel design and efficiency processes systematically.

Energy efficiency and electrochemical characteristic assessment of PEMFC-supercapacitor hybridization via railway profile

Electric trains equipped with efficient electric motors and powered by high-capacity hydrogen fuel cells are a choice of the global transportation industry to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon transportation system. The operation of distinct vehicle types in varying geographical regions is characterized by unique features. Concurrently, the continually fluctuating demand for electricity necessitates the utilization of fuel cells in conjunction with energy storage devices. Thus, this study centers on examining the role of the PEMFC-supercapacitor direct hybridization system within the authentic driving profile of the subway in the Bangkok metropolitan region. The supercapacitor within the hybridization system serves as an energy management device, enhancing the durability of fuel cells when subjected to diverse load demands associated with train propulsion. In order to validate this hypothesis, an MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) protocol was formulated to emulate and serve as the load demand for the investigation, and then the PEMFC-supercapacitor direct hybridization system was operated using the created profile. Subsequently, the hybridization system undergoes electrochemical characterizations and fuel cell performance tests for diagnostic purposes. Empirical findings validated that the supercapacitor operates as a filter, generating a stable voltage response to varying load requirements, and possesses the capability to assimilate energy originating from regenerative braking. The integration of supercapacitors in stabilizing the operational parameters of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) has markedly prolonged their operational lifespan. This assertion is substantiated by voltage signal analysis, which demonstrated a negligible increase in surface resistance of merely 0.23%, as depicted by Nyquist plots. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry revealed that the system attained a peak electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of 0.0089 (106 cm2/mg of Pt). The information presented in this article constitutes data that has been minimally explored in existing research. Specifically, the study concentrates on the practical driving pattern of electric trains. Consequently, experimental results were deemed advantageous for the advancement of heavy-duty electric vehicles.

Ships are projected to navigate whole year-round along the North Sea route by 2100

In the context of global warming, the Arctic sea ice is rapidly receding, and the possibility of navigating the Arctic shipping route continues to increase. Here we combine climate and ship navigability data and use low and medium emission scenarios to analyze sea ice conditions and navigability from 2023 to 2100, focusing on Polar Class 7 and open water vessels. The results show that sea ice motion deteriorates the navigability. Polar Class 7 ships will be able to sail the Arctic passages throughout all seasons except for the spring of 2065, while there is a comparative advantage of the Northern Sea Route for open-water ships. The optimal shipping routes of Polar Class 7 ships from 2065 to 2100 are more distributed toward the Central Arctic. These could considerably reshape the patterns of global shipping networks and international trade among Asia, Europe, and America.

Evaluating CHASER V4.0 global formaldehyde (HCHO) simulations using satellite, aircraft, and ground-based remote-sensing observations

Abstract. Formaldehyde (HCHO), a precursor to tropospheric ozone, is an important tracer of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. Two years (2019–2020) of HCHO simulations obtained from the global chemistry transport model CHASER at a horizontal resolution of 2.8° × 2.8° have been evaluated using the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations. In situ measurements from the Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) in 2018 were used to evaluate the HCHO simulations for 2018. CHASER reproduced the TROPOMI-observed global HCHO spatial distribution with a spatial correlation (r) of 0.93 and a negative bias of 7 %. The model showed a good capability to reproduce the observed magnitude of the HCHO seasonality in different regions, including the background conditions. The discrepancies between the model and satellite in the Asian regions were related mainly to the underestimated and missing anthropogenic emission inventories. The maximum difference between two HCHO simulations based on two different nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission inventories was 20 %. TROPOMI's finer spatial resolution than that of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) sensor reduced the global model–satellite root-mean-square error (RMSE) by 20 %. The OMI- and TROPOMI-observed seasonal variations in HCHO abundances were consistent. The simulated seasonality showed better agreement with TROPOMI in most regions. The simulated HCHO and isoprene profiles correlated strongly (R=0.81) with the ATom observations. However, CHASER overestimated HCHO mixing ratios over dense vegetation areas in South America and the remote Pacific region (background condition), mainly within the planetary boundary layer (< 2 km). The simulated seasonal variations in the HCHO columns showed good agreement (R>0.70) with the MAX-DOAS observations and agreed within the 1σ standard deviation of the observed values. However, the temporal correlation (R∼0.40) was moderate on a daily scale. CHASER underestimated the HCHO levels at all sites, and the peak occurrences in the observed and simulated HCHO seasonality differed. The coarseness of the model's resolution could potentially lead to such discrepancies. Sensitivity studies showed that anthropogenic emissions were the highest contributor (up to ∼ 35 %) to the wintertime regional HCHO levels.

A comprehensive assessment of the importance of the “Maritime Silk Road” route based on multi-dimensional data-driven approaches

Worldwide straits are crucial pathways for global trade and energy transportation, occupying key strategic positions. Therefore, this study utilizes automatic identification system (AIS) data and the structure of the maritime transportation network formed by ship navigation, combined with geospatial big data analysis, to fully consider factors including the natural navigational conditions of routes, the support capabilities of surrounding ports, the geographic advantages of neighboring countries, and the distribution of the shipping network importance in the CCAS evaluation model. To assess the navigability of maritime routes, a data-driven model was constructed using three layers of this model. Empirical analyses were conducted on 22 major routes along China's coast and the “Maritime Silk Road”. This method has significantly enhanced the accuracy and reliability of route assessments, and the improved assessment model demonstrated better navigational conditions in the South China Sea routes, identifying internal factors hindering the development of these critical maritime routes. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive assessment and analysis framework for global maritime transportation, offering crucial reference information for key stakeholders, including policy makers, port and berth infrastructure investors, maritime economists, and large shipping companies. Additionally, the study's results can be practically applied in the actual shipping trade, emphasizing the role of our framework in facilitating effective decision-making and strategic planning within the maritime industry.

“Higher up, further” approaching air transport in postcolonial Africa through the biographies of planes

The 1960s were a pivotal moment for global air transport: the confluence of the technological innovations of the jet age and the formal decolonisation of most African countries resulted in a new connectivity between Africa and the world, as global aerial mobility rapidly intensified. This paper focuses on the multifaceted role of the jet plane in this process. Jets as flag carriers were key objects in terms of national representation on foreign ground for the newly independent nations. They featured prominently as icons of postcolonial African modernity, were diplomatic tools in the Cold War context and were valuable business assets in a competitive global market. The biographies of the first African-owned jets, Air Afrique's DC-8s and Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 720Bs, were analysed for this paper. Following these biographies brings to the fore the social life of planes as a new and exciting research avenue for postcolonial aerial infrastructure and geographies.

A Novel Technical Framework for the Evaluation of Node Significance and Edge Connectivity in Global Shipping Network

Marine transportation is pivotal in the rapid development of global trade, significantly enhancing international economic and trade connectivity and impacting the sustainable development of the global economy. In this study, we developed a novel technical framework based on the Laplacian matrix to evaluate the node significance and edge connectivity of the global shipping network using 2019 vessel schedule data from the top 30 liner shipping companies, as ranked by Alphaliner. Our analyses were conducted in both L-space, characterizing the connectivity function, and P-space, characterizing the transfer function. The findings indicate the following. (1) There is no consistent relationship between node significance and centrality for most ports. Ports with high node significance are mainly located in the Asia–Pacific region, with Singapore Port being the port with the highest node significance in L-space and Shanghai Port being the port with the highest node significance in P-space. (2) In L-space, the structures with significant improvements in edge connectivity in the shipping network have at least one port node that exhibits both low degree centrality and low betweenness centrality; these are primarily found on East African routes. (3) In P-space, the structures with significant improvements in edge connectivity in the shipping network are more complex but are notably linked to the ports of Assaluyeh and Bandar Abbas in Iran. The proposed node evaluation and edge addition strategy effectively analyze port significance and edge connectivity, providing decision-making support for optimizing port layouts, supporting container route planning, and enhancing the overall performance of the shipping network.

Design and Implementation of Photovoltaic Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: A Case Study at Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira

As the global transportation sector transitions towards sustainability, the need for renewable energy- powered electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure becomes increasingly evident. This paper presents a case study on the design and implementation of a photovoltaic electric vehicle charging stations at the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (Colombia). The study outlines the design process, technical specifications, and implementation strategies for a photovoltaic (PV) charging station, emphasizing key considerations such as location selection, solar panel configuration, and necessary equipment. Additionally, the paper evaluates the performance and effectiveness of the PV charging station in supplying the demand for EV charging services on campus. This case study provides valuable insights into the feasibility and scalability of PV EV charging infrastructure in educational institutions.