Maritime Port Research Articles

Discoursing Chinese Maritime Law’s structure and reform

Abstract China’s role in the international maritime transport industry is undeniably growing: the country has become the second-largest ship-owning nation, its maritime ports are ranked among the top globally, and its national maritime transport company, COSCO Group, is ranked 4th among major shipping companies. However, its current legal framework is behind the commercial practices of the maritime transport industry and its operators. With both the evolution of China’s position on the global stage and the emergence of new judicial maritime practices, a revision was inevitable, particularly as China aims to build itself into a maritime power. Although the revision of the Maritime Law was included in the 13th National People’s Congress agenda for the period from 2018 to 2023, the revised Law has not yet been promulgated but is expected in near future. While the reform project focuses solely on the Chinese Maritime Law, China’s new ambitions could turn this moment into an opportunity to overhaul and rethink the role of Chinese maritime law in the current global context. Whether by modernizing its maritime law while maintaining its existing structure, or by rethinking its entire approach, China should consider the legal experience of current maritime powers, such as France, which could serve as a valuable source of inspiration for Chinese legislature in the future.

Electric Vehicle Import/Export Flows in Maritime Ports: Are Local Stakeholders Monitoring their Arrival?

Within the global climate change risk mitigation frame, automotive OEMs are progressively replacing ICE-powered cars with electric vehicles in their model ranges. This strategic move is deeply impacting every level of their supply chains, including maritime ports. To shed some light, in the absence of relevant academic literature, on how closely local stakeholders are monitoring this evolution, multiple port authorities’ and logistic service providers’ institutional websites, as well as auto industry-related web sources, have been browsed (Q4 2023), looking for comments on the arrival of electric vehicles in North American and European auto ports. Study shows that contexts differ from one region to another, even from one port/one stakeholder group to another, leading to various attitudes ranging from spontaneous early movers to hyper-cautious followers.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in dockworkers. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dockworkers are exposed to physical overloads that can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders, leading to functional disability and absenteeism. to map, critically appraise, and synthesize the available evidence on the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases associated with port occupational activities. A comprehensive search was conducted in structured and unstructured databases in August 2023, with no date or language restriction, to identify observational studies evaluating the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dockworkers' occupational activity. The risk of bias was assessed using validated tools based on the included study designs. Data from studies were pooled in meta-analyses. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. We identified 12 analytical cross-sectional studies involving 7821 participants in ports of five countries. Most studies (75%) had a moderate methodological quality according to the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Considering the overall worker categories and any musculoskeletal disorders, the meta-analysis showed a prevalence of 58% (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 37% to 78%), with degenerative spinal diseases 42% (95% CI -0.6% to 91%) and low back pain 36% (95% CI 21% to 50%) being the most prevalent conditions. Symptoms were predominantly in foremen and stevedores. The certainty of the evidence was very low. Musculoskeletal disorders seem prevalent among dockworkers, mainly degenerative spinal diseases and low back pain. Studies with greater methodological consistency are still needed to validate these hypotheses and assist in decision-making for implementing preventive and informational policies in maritime port management organizations. PROSPERO registry CRD42021257677.

Preface

These proceedings contain the peer-reviewed full papers presented at the joint conference ICMASS (the 6th International Conference on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships) and MTEC (International Maritime Port Technology and Development Conference), held October 29th – 30th, 2024, in Trondheim, Norway. MTEC and ICMASS bring together academia and industry from around the world showcasing cutting-edge research and development within maritime technology, autonomous ships and port operations. https://www.ntnu.edu/mtec-icmass2024/home Trondheim, Norway’s hub for technological innovation, has utilized its rich maritime heritage to position itself at the forefront of maritime innovation. With the world’s first test area for autonomous ships, its strong position within academia and research, Trondheim has gained a leading position in the field of maritime innovation through collaboration between maritime stakeholders. This year’s conference topics include: • Green shipping and ports • Smart and autonomous ship and port operations • Maritime safety • Maritime digitalization, connectivity and cybersecurity The theme of this year’s conference, featuring contributions covering topics such as AI & autonomy, cybersecurity, onboard control, remote & shore control, smart ships as part of smart logistics, green shipping, safety evaluations, collision avoidance, regulatory & legal frameworks, as well as discussions on liability, etc. The papers, published in these proceedings contain theoretical contributions as well as reports on practical implementations in field labs and industry, and the conference will also have oral only presentation. Totally there will be more than 90 presentations, where more than 60 papers are invited. A conference such as this can only succeed as a team effort, and, as such, we thank the International Program Committee and the Reviewers for their excellent work in reviewing the papers as well as their invaluable input and advice. On behalf of the organizing committee, List of MTEC/ICMASS-24 Organizing Committee, International Programme and Management Committee and International Reviewers are available in this Pdf.

Green logistics optimization for coal supply in a power plant connecting maritime port

This study addresses the coal transportation and flow distribution challenges within a “port-before-plant” type thermal power plant, with a strong emphasis on green logistics principles. Despite significant advancements in clean energy, coal remains a dominant energy source in China, necessitating optimization in its usage and management to mitigate environmental impacts. This paper introduces an integrated optimization model grounded in green logistics and employs an Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO) algorithm to efficiently manage the coal supply chain from unloading at ports to loading into generators. The model incorporates new parameters and constraints that not only reflect the operational realities of coal logistics but also emphasize minimizing carbon emissions and energy consumption. Numerical experiments demonstrate the algorithm’s superior performance compared to traditional solvers like Gurobi, particularly in handling large-scale instances. Sensitivity analysis reveals the importance of prioritizing efficient and environmentally sustainable unloading and loading equipment, suggesting strategies for optimizing green coal transportation routes. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry operators to enhance operational efficiency while ensuring environmental sustainability through the implementation of green logistics

The NEXUS story and its Stakeholder Analysis: Digitalising Multimodal Logistics and the Associated Value Chain Worldwide

The NEXUS project involves innovation and entrepreneurship. The first task of the project team, which is eclectic and includes several different profiles (research assistants, researchers, managers, engineers, designers and marketing specialists) was to do a stakeholder analysis, which involved doing some field work – six unstructured interviews – as well as some secondary data analysis (scientific articles on the Scopus database; Google searches; among others). The main concerns were to: unlock value through stakeholder engagement; move from concept to collaboration – for sustainable port development; and to connect ports worldwide which will involve international stakeholder collaboration and synergies for sustainable innovation. A Stakeholder analysis is a process consisting of identifying the individuals or groups that have a specific interest in a project, which can affect them, or be affected by them, including large groups such as customers and suppliers; employees; shareholders and investors. It is necessary to sort them according to their impact and consequences regarding the project. It is essential to manage stakeholder expectations when making decisions, especially in a project with thirty-five partners and with a global reach. The initial funding is around 92 million euros (approved by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)), to ensure the ambitious implementation of the new NEXUS platform and other related products. To minimize backlash, early as well as ongoing stakeholder involvement is a prerequisite. Strategy formulation should not occur in an “ivory tower” and involvement is key. For effective and efficient decision-making, to minimize risks, which need to be identified as well as all the connections and relationships to be created and nurtured. The research question at the outset was: How may we successfully implement a multi-partner project which involves considerable investment, and which aims to digitalize maritime ports worldwide? The theme is, currently, without precedent as the impact intended is for there to be a positive impact on all stakeholders involved – a win-win situation all around. The project will finish in 31-12-2025 and will produce 28 innovative solutions for commercialization. NEXUS is a green and digital project which is up to date as regards the latest sustainability norms and regarding overall operational efficiency in multimodal logistics. Work Package 10 is a specific exploitation, internationalization, promotion, and dissemination package.

Culture-led regeneration and the contestation of local discourses and meanings: the case of European maritime port cities

ABSTRACT Culture-led regeneration, understood as a range of policies using cultural activity as a catalyst for urban regeneration, has been widely implemented by many European cities. The interest of local businesses and politicians in these processes seems undiminished despite the various systemic crises hitting European cities. In the meantime, the ways in which culture-led regeneration and its promoters interact with, shape and manipulate local discourses and meanings have become critical for its successful implementation. Drawing upon the literature on the politics of urban development, this paper looks at how culture-led regeneration promulgates, negotiates and manipulates local discourses and meanings. It takes the example of European maritime port cities, where these processes have often served as a means to address the challenges associated with shifting meanings and practices surrounding port-city relationships. We argue that culture-led regeneration schemes operating in port cities in the twenty-first century strive to engage directly with local discourses and meanings associated with past economic activities but, in doing so, renegotiate them, producing hybridized models of regeneration that mirror and align with the agenda of culture-led urban growth coalitions.

Performance analysis for a maritime port with high-frequency services: an Italian case study

The increasing demand at maritime traffic nodes in multi-modal transport emerges as a critical factor for the country’s economy. Consequently, terminal operators should focus on proper strategies and policies to satisfy the increasing demand. This paper exploits the integration of Information Communications Technology systems into physical infrastructures and offers an in-depth study of operations and performance optimisation for a maritime terminal. The case study is the Messina-Tremestieri port (Sicily, South Italy), characterised by a high flow of cars and freight vehicles. This port is in the comprehensive Trans-European Transport Network, and it links Sicily Island with Italy, offering high-frequency services. About 30% of the goods by Ro-Ro services pass through this port: so, it makes sense to use it as a case study. The arrivals distribution, the terminal capacity and the supply offered by the shipping companies are considered input, and terminal efficiency is evaluated through indicators such as the saturation of the yard area and the average vessel load factor. Besides, the study offers two viable solutions to the emerging port saturation. First, a tactical policy (with no infrastructural costs) includes the introduction of flexible time windows. Alternatively, the introduction of additional vessel services has been evaluated during peak hours. Benefits have been simulated by comparing the total number of vehicles served in current and simulated scenarios.

The impact of shipping on the air quality in European port cities with a detailed analysis for Rotterdam

Air quality in cities with large maritime ports is considerably impacted by emissions from shipping activity which is of a growing relevance due to an increasing relative contribution. To explore the extent of shipping emissions to ambient air quality, simulations with the chemical transport model LOTOS-EUROS (LOng Term Ozone Simulation – EURopean Operational Smog model) were performed for the year 2018 at an approximate 1 × 1 km resolution for six European cities with large ports, i.e., Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Le Havre, and London. It was found that depending on the investigated city, 6.5%–62% of the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration in the city centres is attributable to shipping activities. This corresponds to contributions of 1.8–11.5 μg/m3 to the ambient air NO2 concentrations. The average NO2 contribution of shipping in these six cities was 28% (7.1 μg/m3). The largest relative contribution was found for Le Havre where 62% (10.8 μg/m3) of the annual average NO2 concentration was caused by shipping emissions. The largest absolute contribution is found for the city centre of Hamburg with 11.5 μg/m3 (41%). The lowest absolute and relative contribution (respectively 1.8 μg/m3 and 6.5%) are found for London, also having the smallest port in terms of tonnage throughput, which is one of the influential factors that determine emission totals, investigated in this study. For the other investigated pollutants, i.e., PM2.5, PM10 and SO2, contributions from shipping were less pronounced with average contribution for all cities of 10% (1.2 μg/m3) 7% (1.5 μg/m3) and 4% (0.16 μg/m3) respectively. To assess the effect of model choices on these results, this study also looked into the choice of simulation resolution and relations between meteorological parameters and NO2 concentrations. Following simulations with varying chemical transport model resolutions (1 × 1 km to 24 × 24 km), it is found that a decrease in ambient air pollutant concentrations away from localized emission sources is more pronounced at higher (1 × 1 km) model resolutions and source contributions are influenced more significantly than total concentrations. Considering meteorology, generally low wind speeds (1–2 m/s) lead to high NO2 concentration in city centres. For the cities where the port is much closer to the city centre (e.g., London, Le Havre, Hamburg and Antwerp) the absolute NO2 concentrations as well as the contributions from shipping emissions become highest for windless conditions. The high concentrations (>60 μg/m3 NO2) only occur when wind speeds fall below 6 m/s.

ANALYSIS OF MARITIME BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IN THE PERSPECTIVES OF TECHNOLOGY, POLITICS AND ENVIRONMENT

Maritime Management is the process of planning, organizing, managing, and controlling business activities in the maritime sector. This activity includes the operating procedures of ships, all kinds of marine vessels, ports, and all other marine facilities. Communication in maritime business is critical for the continuity and security of maritime operations. Using communication systems, maritime companies can communicate between ships, ports, and other maritime facilities. This communication is essential to manage the navigation of ships, coordinate port operations, and ensure maritime safety. Communication and communication networks in the marine sector are advancing rapidly with technological developments. This situation also carries the growth in cyber security in the marine business. Cyber security in maritime trade is critical to protecting the critical infrastructure of the marine industry. It includes the information technology systems and networks of maritime vessels, ports, and other maritime facilities. This study examines the effects of political, technological, and environmental factors on cyber technology innovations and developments in communication & communication networks in maritime activities. MSC, COSCO, and A.P. are examples. In this study, in which MOLLER-MAERSK companies were selected, the Content Analysis Method was used as the research method, and the findings were analyzed qualitatively by applying the PESTEL method. As a result of the research findings, it has been revealed that despite technological developments, the sector may face cyber threats, and investment planning should be continued more effectively. Conducting this study in a narrow context across different sectors or countries in maritime enterprises will strengthen the literature.

Beyond throughput: Evaluating maritime port competitiveness using MABAC and Bayesian methods

The performance ranking framework of maritime ports conducted by the World Shipping Council relies solely on a singular criterion, such as container throughput. This ranking method lacks a comprehensive assessment of port competitiveness and may have biases. Therefore, this work proposes a new approach to measure the competitiveness of maritime ports by considering multiple performance criteria, such as port processing time, bunker fuel quality, bunker fuel suppliers, geographical advantages, and port security. To ensure fairness in weight estimation, both objective method (using the Entropy method) and subjective method (using the Best Worst method) are employed and integrated using Bayes’ theorem. Furthermore, the Multi-Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC) method is utilized to evaluate the ranking of ports based on the combined effect of these criteria, referred to as the Port Competitiveness Index (PCI). To test the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, the top 20 major maritime ports on the Asia-Europe service route are determined. This finding highlights the practical insights gained from the study, which can be applied to improve the performance of ports across different service routes worldwide.

Labour force management in maritime ports: A comprehensive systematic literature review

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a labour shortage crisis at maritime ports. Therefore, stakeholders of this industry must have robust tools to maintain good performance indicators of productivity and competitiveness. One of the most critical issues is the labour force related to allocation, performance evaluation, and foreseeing/adapting to new requirements. Many authors have studied the characteristics, elements, trends, and factors crucial in its management. However, there needs to be a comprehensive understanding of this concern. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a systematic literature review on labour force management in the maritime ports to (1) understand the elements and factors that strongly relate to human management and (2) identify future research directions to address the impact of labour shortages. Research questions and keywords were used to search academic databases for peer-reviewed papers, articles, or books. The search, selection and quality assessment processes were performed using the PRISMA methodology. This resulted in 32 documents for review and categorised based on their contributions to the research questions and content. The main findings include factors in labour force management, challenges in optimisation, technology and automation use, methods for evaluating performance, and the impact of the regulatory framework. In addition, potential future research streams were proposed to guide further studies into the needs of this industry.

Leveraging Blockchain for Maritime Port Supply Chain Management through Multicriteria Decision Making

This research investigates the optimal integration of Blockchain Technology (BT) in Supply Chain Management (SCM) within Chile’s maritime ports. Utilizing fuzzy Logarithmic Methodology of Additive Weights (LMAW) and Double Normalization-based Multiple Aggregation Methods (DNMA), the study systematically identifies, prioritizes, and ranks key factors influencing BT adoption in SCM. The study’s findings highlight crucial factors like enhanced transaction security, good supply chain practices, and risk management. Furthermore, it ranks the application of ports as prime candidates for BT integration. The research contributes theoretically by developing a hybrid model combining MCDA methods, and practically by guiding the strategic application of BT in the maritime logistics sector, aligning with the principles of Industry 5.0. This paper presents a novel approach that explores the utilization of BT in maritime supply chain management, incorporating MCDA in a vague environment. The research gap of this study lies in defining new contexts in both theoretical and practical literature reviews for extending the use of BT in SCM in the ports of Chile, according to Industry 5.0, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of all aspects of operations in these places. The contribution of this research is applying hybrid MCDA methods in an uncertain environment to assist decision-makers (DMs) in better implementing BT in SCM in Chilean ports, according to Industry 5.0.

Developing an IoT-enabled probabilistic model for quick identification of hidden radioactive materials in maritime port operations to strengthen global supply chain security

Uncovering hidden radioactive materials continues to be a major hurdle in worldwide supply chains. Recent research has not adequately investigated practical Internet of Things (IoT)-based approaches for improving and implementing efficient data fusion techniques. Current systems often misuse resources, leading to security vulnerabilities in typical settings. Our research delves into the fundamental principles of detection using both single and multiple sensor configurations, adopting a probabilistic method for merging data. We introduce a model aimed at accelerating the detection of radiation emissions in actual port operations. The results highlight the model’s effectiveness in rapid identification and determine the best conditions for its application in scenarios involving stacked containers, whether they are on ships or positioned in storage areas.

Mitigation of security risks at maritime ports of entry

Mitigation of security risks at maritime ports of entry

Microbial response to a port fuel spill: Community dynamics and potential for bioremediation

Following a fuel leakage inside a Portuguese maritime port, we conducted parallel 30-day experiments using contaminated seawater and fuel, sampled five days after the incident. This study aimed to (i)survey the native microbial community response to the spilled fuel and (ii)evaluate the efficacy of bioremediation, both biostimulation and bioaugmentation with a lyophilized bacterial consortium (Rhodococcus erythropolis, Pseudomonas sp.), in accelerating hydrocarbon degradation. Metabarcoding analysis revealed a shift in microbial communities, with increased abundance of hydrocarbon-degraders (e.g. Alcanivorax, Thalassospira). Ninety-five hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria were isolated, including key groups from the enriched communities. The lyophilized bacteria added in bioaugmentation, enhanced the abundance of hydrocarbon-degraders over time and were recovered throughout time. Bioremediation treatments favoured biodegradation, achieving over 60 % removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons after 15 days, contrasting with natural attenuation where almost no TPH was removed. This work highlights the potential of bioremediation technologies to accelerate hydrocarbon-degrading activity, for oil spills inside ports.

Variable Neighborhood Search for Multi-Port Berth Allocation with Vessel Speed Optimization

This paper delves into the multi-port berth allocation problem (MBAP), enriching the traditional berth allocation problem (BAP) with vessel speed optimization (VSO). In the MBAP, it is assumed that there is cooperation between the port and the shipping companies, and the operation of the vessels and the ports is planned to maximize the overall benefits. Exploring this potential collaboration between ports and shipping entities has the potential to mitigate, or even resolve, the challenges plaguing maritime transportation, e.g., port congestion and suboptimal vessel schedules, to ultimately enhance the efficiency of maritime trade. In this paper, a new mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for the MBAP is formulated, which attempts to minimize the total cost incurred during operations, with various constraints such as vessel sailing, the vessel space–time relationship in ports, and the planning period. Meanwhile, an innovative variable neighborhood search (VNS) algorithm is presented, in which the initial solution generation method and neighborhood structures are proposed according to the MBAP characteristics. Furthermore, two sets of MBAP instances are generated to test the proposed MILP and VNS, of which the first set is based on real-world port data and the second on existing studies. The numerical experiments verify that the VNS can efficiently and reliably solve instances of all scales, with each neighborhood structure contributing uniquely to the iterative process. In addition, by analyzing the impact of varying oil prices on the MBAP, the study offers valuable management insights. Finally, a case study based on real data from a port group in the Yangtze River Basin is presented to further demonstrate the necessity of considering vessel service time window and planning period in the MBAP as well as the important role of the VSO in scheduling.

Efficient multi-branch segmentation network for situation awareness in autonomous navigation

Real-time and high-precision situational awareness technology is critical for autonomous navigation of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). In particular, robust and fast obstacle semantic segmentation methods are essential. However, distinguishing between the sea and the sky is challenging due to the differences between port and maritime environments. In this study, we built a dataset that captured perspectives from USVs and unmanned aerial vehicles in a maritime port environment and analysed the data features. Statistical analysis revealed a high correlation between the distribution of the sea and sky and row positional information. Based on this finding, a three-branch semantic segmentation network with a row position encoding module (RPEM) was proposed to improve the prediction accuracy between the sea and the sky. The proposed RPEM highlights the effect of row coordinates on feature extraction. Compared to the baseline, the three-branch network with RPEM significantly improved the ability to distinguish between the sea and the sky without significantly reducing the computational speed.

Investigations on the Waves Transformations in the Areas of Romanian Maritime Ports

The sea wave in the Romanian coastal area generates the wave propagation patterns inside the Romanian sea ports, with specific dynamics influenced by the dominant wind directions and the configuration of the port basins. In this contet, a Bousinesq-type numerical model application was considered appropriate to study the wave dynamics in Constanta seaport and also inside the entrance channel of Constanta-South port. The hydrological processes in the internal access channels of a port may determine the need for a more detailed description of the hydrodynamic processes affecting the port operations. The results obtained as part of the simulations using BOUSS2D model on the waves propagation in the basin of the port of Constanta – South’s access channel, have been analyzed comparatively, against in situ video observations and UAV’s measurements. The results of the present study include a comple research process, related to the numerical approach, as well as the approach related to filed measurements and observation activities, for an accurate knowledge of the hydrodynamic induced processes, given the considerable variability for the parameters involved. It also gives some recommendations for the use of technological solutions for the etension of the protected areas in the vicinity of sea ports, enclosed by breakwaters, and the front of the inner quays of the ports.

Renewable Marine Energies in Galicia: Potential and Monitoring Tools

The energy debate is characterized by the consideration of a great variety of arguments. However, nowadays, a certain consensus is reached when demanding the necessary coexistence of different generation sources in the energy mix, in order to guarantee the supply, hold the costs or reduce the CO2 emissions. Considering this framework, the use of renewable energies seems to be obvious: they are abundant, domestic and their contribution to the fight against the climate change is unquestionable. The ocean, covers a 75 % of the earth’s surface, represents a huge reserve of solar and gravitational energy, still to be exploited, estimated in a minimum value of 25.000 GW. The waves, tides and winds of the seas that border the north coast of the Iberian Peninsula are rough and offer a huge kinetic energy potential. Furthermore, Galicia benefits from its consolidated shipbuilding and maritime tradition and port infrastructures, its experience in the onshore wind energy sector, as well as from the available industrial resources and technologies. By analysing previous reports, the present paper aims to identify the Galicia potential for the use of renewable marine energies, specifically coming from waves, tidal streams and offshore winds, and provide monitoring tools for the surveillance of critical elements, as well as for R&D funding sources.