Maritime Trade Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Women Entrepreneurs in Coastal vs. Non-Coastal Regions of Tamil Nadu

This study investigates the women’s entrepreneurship landscape in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with particular emphasis on understanding the differences and similarities between the coastal and non-coastal regions. The coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, with their unique economic activities such as fishing and maritime trade, offer different opportunities and challenges to women entrepreneurs than non-coastal regions, which are characterised by different industries and economic structures. In the situation where men are oppressed and rejected in society, many women face different kinds of challenges with their own efforts and intelligence and excel in this field as woman entrepreneurs in this society, also about the challenges faced by the achiever and the recognition. In this study, we will see in detail how the capital required starting the business and the professional and technical knowledge are available, and in the best way they can expand their business in a visionary way and achieve excellence. And we can all know about all kinds of opportunities between women entrepreneurs in coastal districts and women entrepreneurs in non-coastal districts in Tamil Nadu. The study is qualitative in nature; here, data were obtained from a primary and secondary source, and documents were reviewed to discuss the topic under study using the available resources. This study examined whether coastal women entrepreneurs were dominated in the entrepreneurship of non-coastal women entrepreneurs. Based on the findings of the studies, conclusions have been drawn for the main domains of the study. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable insights to policymakers, business support organisations and researchers interested in promoting women’s entrepreneurship in Tamil Nadu. Understanding the nuances of entrepreneurial ecosystems in different geographic contexts will allow us to develop targeted interventions to empower and support women entrepreneurs, ultimately improving state. It can contribute to the economic development of both the coastal and non-coastal regions.

Exporting Silk from Byzantine Greece: Reconstructing the Trade Logistics of the Theban Silk Industry

ABSTRACT The silk industry that thrived in Thebes around the twelfth century exemplified Byzantium’s industrial accomplishments during the middle Byzantine period. However, how its silk products were exported still awaits systematic clarification. This topic becomes increasingly compelling as scholars begin to reveal the industry’s potential interactions with other regional economic sectors, especially pottery production in Euripos, in terms of trade logistics. This article aims to contribute a thorough investigation into the trade logistics of the Theban silk industry. It argues that Theban silk could have been distributed to its market destinations entirely overland or by integrating with maritime transport at nearby entrepôts. Initially, Corinth, with its two ports oriented towards trade hubs in the east and west, served as the paramount entrepôt. As Corinth’s maritime trade, especially its eastern port, declined in the later twelfth century, Euripos emerged to bridge the gap and assumed its former trade roles.

Beyond the Ultima Thule on the Open Sea: the Chinese and Western Encounters in Trans-cultural Literary Perspectives

Abstract Utilizing ancient Chinese, Latin, and Greek literary sources, this paper examines the interconnected evidence relating to maritime trade from the late 2nd century bc to the 6th century ad. By analyzing the similarities and differences found in texts regarding regions from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, the paper explores aspects that transcend the geographical boundaries of both Chinese and Greco-Roman civilizations, with the goal of throwing light on the flourishing of Sino-Roman maritime trade during late antiquity.

Era of uncertain events: Swedish foreign trade in 2010–2023

International trade has experienced since Global Financial Crisis (GFC) numerous uncertainties and risks. There are some countries that have successfully navigated in this challenging environment, like Sweden. In this research, we analyze the changes in trade between 2010–2023. For imports, the role of Russia, United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark has declined, while the importance of the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland show increase. For exports, a diminishing role of UK and Russia could be detected, while the role of the USA, Poland, Germany and China has increased. Our interpretation is that these trade changes are due to global geopolitical, i.e. macro-level shifts. Both Brexit (2016 onwards) and Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014 onwards) show long-term trade effects. Prior both UK and Russia held high importance; however, in the recent years, especially exports to USA have played more important role, and it is providing growth and surplus. Despite the export growth to Poland, Germany, and China, the trade to these countries remains to show trade deficit. We also analyze the impact of trade changes on maritime trade. Although, the overall handling at sea ports has declined, but container based trade demonstrates clear growth. Direct container connections to UK and Russia have declined substantially in the observation period as Chinese show significant increase.

Geopolitical Competition Between India and China in the Indian Ocean Region: The Case of Myanmar

The 21st century has witnessed an intensification of the strategic rivalry between India and China, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, stemming from long-standing historical contradictions over border disputes and the competition for control over vital maritime trade routes crisscrossing the ocean. This rivalry has profoundly impacted the political and security landscape of countries within the region. Myanmar, being a pivotal geo-strategic location bordering both these powers, has emerged as a crucible for this competitive dynamic, wherein India and China are vying for influence and strategic leverage. This paper seeks to elucidate the nuanced position, role, and extent of competition between India and China in Myanmar. It delves into the multifaceted nature of this rivalry, encompassing not only geopolitical considerations but also economic interests and ideological underpinnings. The analysis underscores how the contradictions, conflicts, and divergent political-economic calculations of these two influential powers in the Indian Ocean region have manifested in a complex web of geopolitical competition within Myanmar. Through a rigorous examination of the historical context, contemporary developments, and the interplay of various factors shaping this dynamic, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying drivers, strategies, and potential implications of India and China's competitive engagement in Myanmar. Ultimately, it concludes that the persistent tensions and power projections by these two major powers in the Indian Ocean have inevitably spilled over into the realm of Myanmar, rendering it a pivotal battleground for their strategic aspirations and regional influence. Received: 18 June 2024 / Accepted: 31 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Space cybersecurity challenges, mitigation techniques, anticipated readiness, and future directions

Space Cybersecurity (SC) is becoming critical due to the essential role of space in global critical infrastructure – enabling communication, safe air travel, maritime trade, weather monitoring, environmental surveillance, financial services, and defence systems. Simultaneously, involving diverse stakeholders in space operations further amplifies this criticality. Similarly, previous research has identified isolated vulnerabilities in SC and proposed individual solutions to mitigate them. While such studies have provided useful insights, they do not offer a comprehensive analysis of space cyber-attack vectors and a critical evaluation of the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. This study addresses this problem by holistically examining the scope of potential space cyber-attack vectors, encompassing the ground, space, user, cloud, communication channels, and supply chain segments. Furthermore, the study evaluates the effectiveness of legacy security controls and frameworks and outlines SC-vector-aligned counterstrategies and mitigation techniques to tackle the unique SC threats. Based on the analysis, the study proposes future research directions to develop and test advanced technological solutions and regulatory and operational frameworks to establish international standards policies and foster stakeholder collaboration. The study contributes a multi-disciplinary foundation and roadmap that researchers, technology developers, and decision-makers can draw on in shaping a robust and sustainable SC framework.

Navigating the EU Ship Recycling Market: Economic and Environmental Perspectives

Ship recycling refers to the process of dismantling ships to extract and recover materials and it is typically seen as the best method to dispose of a ship when its service life is coming to an end. Exploring the European Union's aspiration to enhance competitiveness and boost ship recycling near its shipyards, this study delves into the European ship recycling market's environmental, economic, and regulatory facets. It focuses on factors influencing recycling activities in the EU, set against global market trends and stringent regulations. Employing a multiple linear regression model, the study analyzes variables like shipyard capacity, Light Displacement Tonnage (LDT) price, ship age, shipbuilding rates, maritime trade volumes, and material circularity, drawing data from 2016 to 2022 from various open-source databases. The research uncovers correlations between shipyard capacity and demolition rates, and the impact of LDT prices on demolitions. The study also notes the interplay between shipbuilding activities and demolition rates. This paper contributes crucial insights to the European ship recycling market, aiding sustainable development in a changing operational environment.

An Interpolity Legal Regime in the eighteenth century: 
procedural law of prize

Abstract Prize law was a legal regime that played a crucial role in maritime trade and warfare in the European imperial world before the twentieth century, governing both the capture and disposition of enemy property seized by belligerents at sea during wartime. Prize law outlined the rules by which captures were to take place and how captured property was to be handled, adjudicated, and (if “condemned” or deemed a valid capture), disposed of. All European maritime powers had prize regimes during the early modern era, which collectively adjudicated the fates of tens of thousands of vessels worth the equivalent of hundreds of millions of today’s dollars. This article examines the procedural law of prize in the long eighteenth century: the rules that governed how legal actors in the prize regime brought cases before tribunals and the tribunals’ rules for adjudicating them. It shows that the law of prize was an interpolity legal regime, generated within the ambiguous legal spaces that existed between the jurisdictional boundaries of individual states and empires. The article focuses on three important areas of procedural law for evidence of the interpolity character of the prize regime. It looks first at the distinctive role played by mariners in prize procedures. Captains of privateers and other capturing vessels functioned as quasi-officers of the court, responsible for assembling the documentary record that prize tribunals used to adjudicate captures and bringing the cases before the courts. Imperial prize regulations gave almost no guidance on the rules that they were to follow. The proper procedures were defined by mariners and merchants themselves, as unwritten rules articulated at sea. Second, we turn to how the prize tribunals managed language diversity and translation. I show that, a few exceptions aside, prize tribunals did not acknowledge linguistic difference among litigants. Instead, the tribunals relied on silent and often unacknowledged translation processes, which embedded in their proceedings a fiction that all of the actors before them communicated in a common language. Last, the article shows that prize tribunals applied foreign law in their proceedings, in ways that were not formally authorized by imperial law. By focusing on the neglected procedural law of prize, this article offers a different view of the prize regime than the one that has been painted by many studies of substantive law of prize in the long eighteenth century, in at least two ways. One is that studying the procedural law of prize casts into sharp relief the bottom-up character of prize law. Far from being dictated by sovereigns or from imperial centers, much about the prize regime was created informally by lower-level legal actors. Second, a focus on procedural law reveals important continuities in prize law across space and time. Substantive prize law during the period saw extensive debates about the nature of neutral rights, among other issues, with different empires articulating radically different doctrines. The procedural law of prize, true to its interpolity origins, remained remarkably constant across empires and over time.

Nagapattinam Port: the Catalyst of Cultural and Diplomatic Exchange Between Indian Sub-continent and Indonesian Archipelago

Abstract: -This paper explores the dynamic interactions between the Shailendra dynasty of Southeast Asia and the Chola dynasty of South India from the 8th to 11th centuries CE. The Shailendras, who were known for deep ties with cholas. The Cholas, expanded their influence across South India and beyond, maintained a significant relationship leading to cultural, economic, and religious exchanges. The paper highlights Nagapattinam's pivotal role as vibrant trade hub that facilitated these exchanges. Through the exchange of gifts and the construction of Buddhist institutions, like those which were funded by the Srivijayan rulers. The study demonstrates how these reciprocations fostered a shared cultural heritage and strengthened maritime trade networks. This trade-off underscores the role of economic and cultural hubs in bridging regions leading to enhancing diplomatic relations.

Navigational Insights during the Reign of Cyrus the Great: A Comprehensive Examination Based on Archaeological Findings Such as Clay Tablets, Reliefs, and an Analysis of Historical and Literary Texts

One of the earliest indications of Iranian navigation during the Achaemenid period is a relief found in the audience hall of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae, bearing the appellation “God of Water and Sea.” The primary focus of this article is to investigate whether navigation and maritime activities during the reign of Cyrus the Great were influenced by and expanded upon Phoenician techniques and Mesopotamian regions. Prior studies have generally taken a historical and overarching approach to this subject. Since complete trust cannot be placed in historical references and texts, and given the existence of certain deficiencies and even contradictions in the writings of ancient historians such as Herodotus, Xenophon, and others, this research aims to shed new light on the obscure aspects of navigation and seafaring during this era, relying on archaeological findings such as the clay tablets, relief, and a reexamination of previous literary and historical texts. This article employs an analytical-descriptive methodology and a library-based approach. Among the archaeological findings from this period, a total of two reliefs in Pasargadae and two clay tablets are subject to investigation and research. The examination of the artifacts and findings from Pasargadae demonstrates that the Achaemenids indirectly came under the influence of Phoenician art and Mesopotamian regions concerning navigation. Furthermore, in the pursuit of maritime development, trade, and shipping, they were directly influenced by the Phoenicians. With the acquisition of maritime power, they successfully annexed many neighboring lands to their powerful empire.

The origins of Russia’s Mediterranean trade: the 250th anniversary of the Küçük Kaynarca treaty

The Black Sea trade was a crucial factor in the economic development of the Russian state following the incorporation of Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region into the empire. Nevertheless, even prior to reaching the Black Sea and the establishment of the first harbours, the Don merchants were engaged in commercial activities utilising Greek merchant vessels. The construction of merchant and military fleets in the ports of Nikolaev and Kherson was still a distant prospect. Following the conclusion of the first trade treaties between Russia and France, Turkey, Italy and the Septinsular Republic, the Black Sea trade opened up new prospects. The Mediterranean countries welcomed the new trading power with enthusiasm, anticipating the potential benefits of trade relations with it. This became evident when wheat from Novorossiya, which enjoyed good sales not only across the Mediterranean but also beyond, was shipped to Black Sea ports. Nevertheless, the Ottoman Empire continued to be Russia’s main trading partner. Its vast territory stretched across the Balkans, Asia Minor, and North Africa, including numerous islands of the Archipelago. The southern regions of the Ottoman Empire provided Russia with a range of commodities, including fruit, rice, wine, and olive oil. In return, Russian merchants exported Russian leather, furs, iron, and wheat southwards. Following Greece’s independence in 1830, trade with this state, which had long been a conduit for Russian goods and whose sailors were renowned for their expertise in the Mediterranean, began to flourish. The advancement of the Black Sea trade was contingent upon the construction of ships, which reached a new standard following the establishment of additional ports in the Crimea and the Azov region. The evolution of the Black Sea trade has been a subject of interest for scholars, both Russian and international, who have utilized published statistical data and materials from the archives of Southern Russia. The author draws on a hitherto untapped body of sources, namely information from Russian consuls in the Archipelago, Turkey, and Greece, as well as materials from the Commercial Office of the Russian mission in Constantinople, which kept meticulous records of all commercial ships passing through the Straits. The author draws upon hitherto unexplored records from the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire in order to expand the framework of established perceptions concerning the inception of South Russian maritime trade and the initial endeavours of the merchants of Odessa and Taganrog.

Shifts in Maritime Trade Routes as a Result of Red Sea Shipping Crisis Detected in TROPOMI NO2 Data

AbstractObservations from space‐borne spectrometers have been lately used to quantify shipping emissions of nitrogen oxides (ΝΟΧ). Here we present a method that enhances the shipping signal of NO2 TROPOspheric MOnitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite sensor observations in order to assess the impact of the Red Sea ship attacks on NO2 levels in three important shipping routes along the Red Sea, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Gibraltar Strait. Major shipping carriers, sailing usually via the Red Sea, have responded to the attacks by transiting their fleet around the African continent. The shipping signal from TROPOMI declines by ∼55% in the Red Sea and ∼15% in the Gibraltar Strait while an increase of ∼40% is found off the South African coast between January–June 2024 and the same period in 2023. These changes correlate well with vessel statistics, demonstrating the ability to track abrupt changes in NO2 shipping levels with satellite measurements.

Rice, lamb and tuna. Food processing and acquiring strategies in the medieval harbour city of Qalhât (Oman): Bioarchaeological evidence from the twin houses' building (B94)

The rise of the kingdom of Hormuz during the 13th–15th c. CE led to the development of harbour cities such as Qalhât (Sultanate of Oman), considered as the kingdom's second capital. However, although some textual sources are available, a lack of bioarchaeological analysis means that the food-processing activities and subsistence strategies set up to feed this urban population are still largely unknown. Multi-proxy analyses, including zoological, ichthyological, and botanical, have therefore been undertaken on the twin house building (B94) at the site of Qalhât. Cross-referencing these data allowed for the identification of several food processing activities and the function of some rooms due to their spatial distribution. In addition, these data give new insights into fishing practices (intensively exploited pelagic zone) and the composition and management of agropastoral systems (in the form of oasis date palm gardens, using a combination of crops, weeds and livestock), as well as food acquiring strategies that relied on the importation of plant products via the long-distance maritime trade networks of the western Indian Ocean. The study of building (B94) has provided major data to understand the way of life of the inhabitants of this region for this period, still too little studied.

From Port Misery to Post-Misery? Spectral-geographies and exorcising ‘ghosts’ in Port Adelaide

Through an interpretivist and hauntological approach, our study explores how self-guided ghost walks use ‘spectral-geographies’ to reconcile problematic colonial histories while simultaneously supporting urban regeneration goals. To achieve this, Port Adelaide was selected as our study context. Port Adelaide, founded in 1837 as the Crown Colony of South Australia’s first port, was quickly plagued with numerous challenges, earning it the colloquial title of ‘Port Misery’. While its fortunes waxed and waned over the decades, the port fell out of use in 1970 and quickly plunged into disarray, characterised by abandoned shopfronts, derelict buildings and social malaise, subsequently resurrecting its ‘Port Misery’ epithet. To reverse its misfortune, a series of state-led and public-private regeneration projects were initiated from the 1970s, however, each ultimately ended in failure. Despite this, another ambitious 15-year renewal plan was launched in 2012 where the spectre of decline is interred by redevelopment visions inspiriting the Port’s maritime history and heritage. While Port Adelaide may be haunted by its dark colonial history and repeated failings to regenerate, paradoxically, the government-sanctioned ghost tour narratives, may in fact exorcise its past as ‘Port Misery’ and positively inform goals to develop the Port as a progressive and innovative ‘Post-Misery’ place.

The Establishment of Economic Dirigism In Maritime Trade of Turkey, 1923–1950

ABSTRACT In the aftermath of the establishment of the republican regime in Turkey in 1923, the policy of economic dirigisme began to dominate the markets step by step. This article aims to analyse the effects of economic dirigisme on maritime trade for a quarter of a century and furnishes an illustrative case delineating how the government’s favoured economic policy attenuated the developmental prospects of maritime commerce. Throughout this temporal span, endeavours advocating a laissez-faire market policy found themselves systematically marginalized, as the juggernaut of economic dirigisme unfolded. The corollary of this policy was a precipitous decline in the operational efficiency of maritime trade. The proclivity for deploying antiquated ships escalated the inherent risks of maritime accidents. Legislative initiatives, exemplified by the promulgation of cabotage laws and the imposition of onerous taxes, erected formidable impediments that curtailed the operability of foreign-flagged vessels in Turkish ports. Concurrently, the waning trade potential cast a pall over the developmental trajectory of Anatolian cities.

The Evolution of the 2021 Seacor Power Tragedy in Coastal Louisiana

Abstract On 13 April 2021, a mesoscale convective system (MCS) swept across the southeastern Louisiana coast, capsizing the 39-m Seacor Power roughly 7 km from shore and leaving 13 mariners drowned or missing. In addition to the severe straight-line winds that sank the vessel, sustained surface winds > 20 m s−1 behind the leading convection persisted well after the main convective band, inhibiting search and rescue efforts. Though complete historical fatality statistics are unavailable, the 13 deaths associated with this event likely represent one of the deadliest severe convective weather events in modern U.S. maritime history. This analysis integrates in situ, remotely sensed, and reanalysis datasets to reconstruct the 2021 Seacor Power accident as well as ascertain its depiction in day-of operational convection-allowing model (CAM) guidance. Results suggest that the MCS formed along an unanalyzed coastal boundary and developed a strong mesohigh to the east of the wreck as it moved offshore. The resulting zonally oriented pressure gradient directed stiff easterly winds over the wreck for several hours, even as the squall line had propagated well away from the coast. This multihour period of severe weather along the Louisiana coast was relatively well resolved by morning-of CAM guidance, providing optimism that future such events may be anticipated with the lead times required by vulnerable seacraft to reach safe harbor. Future severe convective weather watches containing marine zones might include a “marine” section detailing the potential sea conditions, analogous to the “aviation” section in current severe weather watches.

Economia azul sustentável: não podemos perder mais tempo

The Blue Economy was formulated with the aim of surviving the challenge of time, as well as orientating and supporting the needs of the planet, in order to effectively address the critical challenges for this growth. Considering that the blue economy has diverse components, the strategy centres on five critical vectors: i. Fishing, aquaculture and ecosystem conservation; ii. Maritime transport and trade; iii. Sustainable energy, extractive minerals, gas, innovative industries; iv. Environmental sustainability, climate change and coastal infrastructure; v. Governance, institutions and social action. The ocean plays a crucial role in the well-being of humanity, as it contains multiple properties that are essential for the survival of all living beings. However, with successive technological advances, phenomena have emerged that have stimulated the overuse of its potential, calling into question the sustainability of its resources. Based on this premise, we address the issue of the Blue Economy, which emerges as an economy that brings together a range of sectors that make it possible to valorise the riches of the sea in a sustainable and balanced way.

THE ATTRACTIONS OF GUAR KEPAH ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, PENANG, MALAYSIA AS AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE TOURISM SITE

The Guar Kepah archaeological site in Penang, Malaysia, has been the focus of archaeological re search since 1860, revealing important insights into the prehistoric maritime community that inhabited the area approximately 5,000 years ago. Excavations at the site have revealed human skeletons, teeth, stone tools, and pottery, providing evidence of the community's burial traditions and material culture. The primary data collected from these excavations has facilitated the development of the site's tourism sector, with plans underway to establish the Guar Kepah Archaeological Center (GKAC). This study emphasises the importance of utilising primary data to create compelling narratives that contribute to the development of archaeological heritage tour packages. The Guar Kepah site serves as a case study for the development of archaeotourism, highlighting the need for a balance between site preservation and providing authentic experience to cultural tourists. The findings from this site have the potential to shed light on human relations with aquatic habitats, the importance of the mari ne environment in human evolution and ecology, island colonisation, and the establishment of maritime trade networks. The development of the Guar Kepah site as an archaeological heritage tourism location in northern Peninsular Malaysia demonstrates the commitment of the government and stakeholders to promoting sustainable heritage tourism in the region.

Evaluating the Impact of Private Sector Participation on Operational Efficiency in Container Terminals: A Case Study of Colombo Port

Sri Lanka, strategically located in South Asia, has the potential to become a significant hub for international maritime trade. However, the current port infrastructure, particularly in Colombo, faces capacity constraints that limit its ability to accommodate larger vessels and manage increasing container traffic. This study evaluates the impact of private sector participation on the operational efficiency of Colombo’s container terminals - Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT), and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT). Using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the study found that private sector involvement significantly enhances terminal efficiency. SAGT, a privately operated terminal, exhibited the highest overall efficiency, while CICT demonstrated the highest productivity. JCT, though publicly operated, showed commendable performance but lagged behind the private terminals. The findings emphasize the value of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in optimizing port operations, offering critical insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime economy.

Navigating Maritime Heritage: An Immersive Virtual Tour of the USS Drum Submarine Museum

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has revolutionized the preservation and interpretation of heritage sites. This study focuses on developing an immersive 360-degree virtual tour (VT) for the USS Drum Submarine Museum in Mobile, Alabama, USA, incorporating oral histories to enhance the accessibility and visitor experiences. The project addresses the need for innovative methods to present maritime history effectively. Using Matterport technology, detailed 3D imagery of the USS Drum was captured and processed, integrating multimedia elements and oral histories from a veteran USS Drum crew member to provide a richer historical narrative. A user experience study gathered feedback from virtual visitors, who offered quantitative and qualitative responses. The research findings indicate that the VT significantly enhances visitor engagement and historical understanding, with high satisfaction rates for visual quality and oral histories, though some users experienced technical challenges and difficulties. This study demonstrates the potential of combining immersive VTs with oral histories to create engaging educational experiences, preserving the USS Drum’s legacy and making it accessible to a broader audience, including those unable to visit in person. Furthermore, this project sets a precedent for museums to leverage digital tools in preserving and promoting maritime heritage and oral histories.