Sea Route Research Articles

The Republic of Korea’s Foreign Policy in the Arctic Region: Prospects for the Northern Sea Route

The Republic of Korea’s Foreign Policy in the Arctic Region: Prospects for the Northern Sea Route

Challenges and Security Risks in the Red Sea: Impact of Houthi Attacks on Maritime Traffic

This study examines the significant impact of Houthi insurgent activities on maritime traffic within the strategic Red Sea and Suez Canal routes, essential conduits for global trade. It explores the correlation between regional instability, exemplified by Houthi actions from 19 November 2023 to 5 February 2024, and changes in maritime traffic patterns and operational efficiency. This study seeks to answer a critical question in transport geography: how does regional instability, exemplified by Houthi insurgent activities, affect the maritime traffic patterns and operational efficiency of the Red Sea and Suez Canal? Using descriptive statistics, qualitative analysis, and geospatial methods, this research highlights recent trends in maritime traffic and incidents, revealing spatial and geopolitical challenges in this crucial trade route. The findings indicate a notable decline in maritime activity in the Gulf of Aden and Suez Canal due to security concerns from Houthi attacks, prompting a significant shift to alternative routes, particularly around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift underscores the broader implications of regional instability on global trade and the importance of maintaining an uninterrupted maritime flow. This study also emphasizes the economic ramifications, such as increased operational costs and freight rates due to longer transit times and enhanced security measures. This research concludes with a call for improved maritime security protocols and international cooperation to protect these strategic maritime pathways. It contributes to the discourse on transport geography by quantifying the direct impacts of regional conflicts on maritime logistics and proposing strategies for future resilience, highlighting the interconnected nature of global trade and security and the need for collective action against evolving geopolitical challenges.

The strategic insights of Arctic sea routes for the sustainable development of Taiwan's shipping industry

In recent years, the Arctic Ocean has been experiencing the impacts of climate change. Global warming has led to the melting of ice caps and a significant reduction in ice coverage. As a result, the Arctic Ocean has indirectly opened up two new shipping routes known as the “Northeast Passage" and the “Northwest Passage." The opening of these new routes has the potential to transform Northeast Asia into a major transshipment hub, linking the Indo-Pacific and Europe regions. Novel business models are also generated and investigated within the maritime industry. This study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with potential stakeholders from industry, government, and academia. Additionally, qualitative analysis software- NVivo11 was utilized along with grounded theory for data analysis. The rationale supporting this view includes the advantages of Taiwan's shipping industry, its strategic geographic location, and the potential for shorter shipping routes through the Arctic. Additionally, Taiwan can establish conducive conditions to enhance its international standing and diplomatic relationships concerning Arctic Ocean matters. This initiative will facilitate the sustainable development of Taiwan's maritime industry in the Arctic region.

Polish Conductresses and the Insecurities of Female Labour Migration to France, 1925–1929

In this article we argue that the reports of conductresses accompanying female migrants shed new light on the nature of interwar labour migration. As they mitigated the anxiety and insecurity that women faced during the process of migration, they fulfilled a crucial role in the highly restrictive post-1918 international migration regime. The Polish government introduced conductresses in 1925 to respond to news of the mistreatment and sexual exploitation of Polish women working in France. Developed in close collaboration with international organizations and the League of Nations, the work of these conductresses on land and sea routes was framed as those of ‘moral guardians’ protecting female migrants from the dangers of sex trafficking. However, we argue that their main function was to mitigate the uncertainties of the post-war international order, as traditional routes of migration were ruptured and both dispatching and receiving countries attempted to control and restrict migration. Female migrants had no networks with existing diasporas, were often illiterate, and mistrusted both Polish and French institutions. By addressing these challenges, the conductresses took on roles far beyond their function as moral authority: they acted as translators, knowledge imparters, mediators, and network forgers. Both in Poland and at the international level, the Polish conductress scheme was regarded a success, as they managed to provide a relatively ‘secure’ migration experience within a migration regime designed to walk a fine line between demands for foreign labour on the one hand and the rising ideal of economic protectionism on the other.

Surgical challenges in Non-combatant Evacuation Operations

BackgroundGlobal uncertainties have prompted nations to adopt vigilant approaches to safeguard their citizens. Recent crises have compelled Western nations to undertake evacuations, ranging from peaceful scenarios to urgent military interventions. In April 2023, Sudan descended into civil war, prompting France to orchestrate a complex evacuation operation leveraging prepositioned forces in Djibouti. Materials & MethodsThis retrospective observational study aims to analyze the surgical challenges encountered during Operation SAGITTAIRE (OS), focusing on human, technical, and logistical requirements for successful military interventions in multinational civilian populations. ResultsOS successfully evacuated 1017 individuals of 84 nationalities from Khartoum using road, sea, and air routes. Special forces teams, including the Surgical Life-saving Module (SLM), were mobilized alongside conventional military elements. The Joint Medical Surgical Center (JMSC) in Djibouti served as a permanent medical facility with comprehensive facilities and staff. Air Medical evacuations were performed for vicitms and surgical interventions were conducted, including damage control surgery, orthopedic procedures, and debridements. Five surgical evaluations and four surgical procedures were performed. The operation spanned 96 hours without death. The SLM, deployed in Khartoum and within an aircraft, played a crucial role. DiscussionOS highlighted the need for a comprehensive health support system. Challenges in assessing health needs led to the establishment of a substantial and adaptable system. The report emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to support Non-combatant Evacuation Operations in French Doctrine. ConclusionOS showcased the French Health Military Service's capabilities in deploying a comprehensive damage control chain in challenging environments. This fatality-free success underlines the effectiveness of coordinated resuscitation, damage control, and transportation. Evacuation operations in non-combatant settings during civil wars pose formidable challenges, requiring a modular and adaptable support concept. Coordination, communication, logistical preparation, and training are crucial elements for successful management of such operations.

Unveiling risk factors influencing the selection of the Northern Sea Route: A conjoint analysis approach for Japanese shippers

This paper explores how Japanese corporations assess risks associated with using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a new maritime transport route in Asia and identifies measures to promote its usage. We address two key questions: (1) What risks influence shippers' route choices in maritime transport? (2) Does risk evaluation vary by cargo type and company size? Using choice-based conjoint analysis and a conditional logit model with online survey data, we identified five main risk factors influencing shippers: route unavailability rate, delay probability, piracy probability, transport costs, and war conditions, ranked in importance from highest to lowest as war conditions, delay probability, transport costs, route unavailability rate, and piracy probability. Additionally, the risk factors significantly influencing route selection were found to be robust, showing minimal variation across company size, type of trade (import/export), and the nature of the goods transported. Our findings suggest several policy implications. Diplomatic efforts are crucial for safe vessel navigation on the NSR. Government initiatives should focus on reducing transport delays through technology investments and implementing strategies to decrease NSR delay rates without increasing shippers' costs. Additionally, emphasizing the lower piracy risks on the NSR compared to Suez Canal Route could boost its attractiveness.

Logistic transportation role for sustainable ecotourism industry

Abstract Transportation plays a pivotal role in the industrial landscape, and the ecotourism sector, particularly sustainable ecotourism, is no exception. Sustainable ecotourism places emphasis on the responsible management of natural resources, aiming to foster comprehension, appreciation, and the conservation of both the environment and cultural heritage. The purpose of this research is to examine how the emergence of logistics transportation studies is driven by the transportation needs of island communities and tourists to increase sustainable ecotourism industry activities. Logistics transportation services that support ecotourism is a relatively new study of existing logistics resources in Indonesia. This study chooses sea transportation routes for the Karimunjawa Islands and Jepara. The logistics services for tourism transportation provided by the government and third parties pay little attention to sea transportation routes that pass-through conservation areas, namely the Panjang Island Conservation Area and Karimun Jawa National Park. Indeed, there has been a sea route provided, but several obstacles arose when passing through the conservation area. The establishment of novel transportation routes emerges as a viable solution for bolstering the sustainable ecotourism sector and addressing the transportation requisites of the local community. Additionally, these new transportation routes can yield positive outcomes for the safeguarding of conservation areas.

Перспективы международного транзита по Северному морскому пути

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) serves as a vital route for Russia, driven by both economic demands and the need for industrial development in the Arctic. The country primarily uses the NSR to supply goods to its northern regions, with the route also used by Russian companies involved in Arctic projects. As a result of economic growth in the Russian Arctic, advances in transportation technologies for navigating harsh Arctic conditions, and ongoing climate change, the NSR is expected to grow in significance as a global transport corridor, including its role in international trade. This article analyzes freight traffic and assesses the NSR’s potential for international transit. The study aims to identify promising directions for the future development of international transit along the NSR. It examines domestic and transit freight traffic dynamics over an eleven-year period, concluding that recent geopolitical events in Ukraine and the resulting anti-Russian sanctions have impacted transit traffic volumes. Key challenges to the development of NSR transit freight traffic are identified, along with their potential consequences. The study assesses the NSR’s transit capacity and outlines priority actions for unlocking its full potential. Two primary areas for future transit development are highlighted: facilitating transit traffic from China and increasing container traffic volumes, both of which warrant further exploration. The relevance of this study is underscored by the growing need to enhance NSR transit freight traffic. The scientific contribution of this research lies in its evaluation of the NSR’s transit potential using statistical analysis and in identifying strategic directions for transit development. The practical significance of the study is reflected in its recommendations, which aim to support the growth of the NSR as a key international transit route.

The Northern Sea Route as a shipping route and an investment transport megaproject

The Northern Sea Route as a shipping route and an investment transport megaproject

Potential for the Development of International Transport Corridors in Current Market Conditions

This research is devoted to the prospects for the development of international transport corridors (ITC) through the prism of the dynamics of market forces in the transport industry and world trade. International logistics is currently undergoing a global transformation, and therefore the effective use by Russia of its transport potential is still the most urgent and practical task. In this regard, this research is focused on internal and external factors that influence the realization of this potential. The research presents the factors that contributed in retrospect for more than 10 years to the dynamic development of freight transportation through the ITC “East – West”. Additionally, the impact of exogenous factors such as epidemiological restrictions on a global scale and economic sanctions against Russia on the logistics of container transportation in recent years is considered in more detail. On the basis of a retrospective analysis of the development of cargo transportation through the ITC “East – West” generalized conditions are formulated that allow to assess the potential for the development of transport cargo fl ows on other key ITC. An analysis of the current dynamics and problems of the development of transportation along the corridors East – West, Northern Sea Route and North-South is carried out. Further prospects for their increase from the point of view of transport marketing is provided. Among the conclusions, the importance of developing and expanding the infrastructure of the ITC “East – West”, as well as proposals for the intensifi cation of cargo transportation through other ITC, is highlighted.

The influence of heavy shipping traffic on the structure and dynamics of sea ice in the southwestern Kara Sea

The development of the Northern Sea Route and the beginning of year-round transit shipping require not only the production of new icebreakers and ice-class vessels, but also the development of a specialized hydrometeorological support system for ice shipping. For the analysis of satellite data and the development and validation of ice forecasts, actual field data on the ice cover is required. This data can only be obtained from shipboard observations; however, scientific expeditions are rarely organized during the winter. In order to obtain new data over the area of intensive shipping, two expeditions were organized on board of nuclear icebreakers in the southwestern Kara Sea (“LED-SMP” expeditions) in 2023 and 2024. Specialized hydrometeorological maintenance of ice shipping in the southwestern Kara Sea together with the research expeditions “LED-SMP” carried out in the same place and time on board the nuclear icebreakers revealed the influence of the technogenic factor on the sea ice structure and dynamics was revealed. In winter and spring, two main routes are used for navigation in the southwestern Kara Sea: through the Kara Gate Strait and north of Cape Zhelaniya. In April 2024, a unique situation occurred when, due to the difficult ice conditions east of the Kara Gate Strait, the entire ship traffic was directed north of Cape Zhelaniya. In preparing a long-term ice forecast, it was noted that after the redirection the natural development of ice processes changed. At the beginning of the winter period 2024,

Toward green container liner shipping: joint optimization of heterogeneous fleet deployment, speed optimization, and fuel bunkering

AbstractContainer liner shipping companies, under the international shipping carbon reduction indicators proposed by the International Maritime Organization, must transform two key aspects: technology and operations. This paper defines a green liner shipping problem (GLSP) that integrates the deployment of a heterogeneous fleet, speed determination, and fuel bunkering. The objective is to achieve low‐carbon operations in liner shipping, taking into consideration the diversification of power systems, the use of alternative fuels in ships, and the continuous improvement of alternative fuel bunkering systems. For this purpose, we present a bi‐objective mixed integer nonlinear programming model and develop two methodologies: an epsilon‐constraint approach and a heuristic‐based multi‐objective genetic algorithm. We validate the effectiveness of our model and methods through a case study involving container ships of various sizes deployed on intra‐Asian short sea routes by SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd. The experimental results highlight the crucial role of dual‐fuel (DF) ships in the pursuit of low‐carbon strategies by liner companies, with liquefied natural gas and ammonia DF ships being the most widely used. Additionally, fuel cell (FC) ships, particularly those powered by ammonia and hydrogen, demonstrate significant carbon reduction potential. Furthermore, ships with larger container capacities have a greater cost advantage. For the GLSP, speed determination is an auxiliary decision, and the lowest speed is not necessarily the optimal choice. Decision‐makers must carefully balance competing economic and carbon emission reduction objectives, as deploying more alternative fuel ships may increase fuel bunkering and fuel consumption, resulting in a higher total operating cost.

Market of transport and logistics services in the context of global transformation of supply chains

The article examines the market of transport and logistics services in the Russian Federation and provides an analysis of key trends and changes caused by the transformation of supply chains associated with political and economic factors. The analysis examines the quantitative characteristics of the transport and logistics services market and identifies current trends and their impact on the transformation of logistics systems. An analysis of the development of the multimodal transportation segment and the role of cargo containerization in the development of this segment is provided. When discussing the results, the classifications of transport and logistics services proposed by various researchers and their applicability in studying of the market of transport and logistics services in the Russian Federation are analyzed. The impact of supply chain transformation is examined using the example of the oil and gas complex of the Russian Federation. The main problems faced by oil and gas enterprises in the context of changing supply chains and the orientation of the economy are highlighted. The article presents the main ways to solve some of the problems identified by researchers, for example, the reorientation of oil transportation to the Northern Sea Route and the Siberian pipelines, leading material flows to the east and to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

История забытой экспедиции

This article delves into a little-studied aspect of the history of the Russian exploration of the North – one of the first Arctic expeditions of the Russians in the early XIX century. The appeal to the historical experience of the discovery and study of the New Siberian Islands archipelago is determined by the growing interest in it on the part of world powers in connection with the development of coastal shelf resources and the resumption of the Northern Sea Route. In the Russian historiography the name of M.M. Gedenstrom remained a figure of silence for a long time in comparison with such explorers as F.P. Wrangel, P.F. Anju, G.A. Sarychev, E.V. Toll, who were engaged in the study of this region of the Arctic. However, the expedition of M.M. Gedenstrom is marked not only by the connection with specific tasks of Russian foreign policy and attempts to solve scientific problems relevant for that time, but also with the interests of business development on the islands, the subsoil of which is still rich in valuable fossil raw materials. M.M. Gedenstrom was the first to create a general map of the Novosi-birsk Islands, described them and the coast between the mouths of the Yana and Kolyma rivers, and corrected inaccuracies on previously compiled maps.

The Russian Arctic in the international economic and geopolitical agenda

The article considers the key economic and geopolitical aspects in the activities of states having strategic interests in the Arctic region. Attention is paid to potential challenges that Russia may face in terms of international cooperation, including militarization. The current development of the Northern Sea Route with the assessment of its integration prospects into the global logistics network is considered. The state of the infrastructure in the Arctic is evaluated, along with identification of possible development directions.

Institutional Bases for The Formation of the Subject of Aviation Infrastructure Management in the System of Ensuring the Sustainability of the Northern Sea Route

The development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) infrastructure is one of the priority areas of managerial thought in the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Commercial use of high-latitude caravan routes in the waters of the NSR should significantly change the situation with the organization of logistical maritime flows around the Eurasian continent. Ensuring uninterrupted traffic along with fulfilment of the conditions of urgency of delivery and cargo safety form the category of stability of the NSR functioning. Its northern part runs exclusively in domestic seas, and ensuring regular vessel traffic is Russia’s priority task in the competition for transporting cargo from east to west (and back) by sea. The movement of ships along the NSR falls directly under the authority of the management of Rosatom State Corporation, while the management of the infrastructure that ensures the continuous movement of transport along the NSR is carried out collegially. At the same time, such an important aspect as the management of the infrastructure complex supporting the movement of container ships with transit cargo has been assigned to three components of a single management entity: the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, and Rosatom Corporation, without clearly defining the boundaries of responsibility for interdepartmental management decisions. To date, this approach has already caused a series of organizational and technical difficulties. The aim of the study is to identify the rational organization of the infrastructure of the management subject, allowing to ensure the sustainability of the movement of passenger and cargo ships throughout the water area of the NSR; it is based on such scientific methods as induction, systematization, grouping Key results of the work may be in demand both in the course of scientific research in the field of infrastructure development in the regions of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and in the framework of improving the existing management system of aviation infrastructure of these territories.

Цифровая и логистическая инфраструктуры Арктической зоны: современное состояние исследований и пути развития

The subject of the article is the analysis of the current state of research and practice in the field of transport, logistics and digital infrastructures in the Russian Arctic. The authors consider logistic and digital infrastructures as key communication subsystems that ensure the movement of material values, people and information, and thus serve as a prerequisite for the development of the macro-region under consid-eration. The research methods used were literature review of scientific sources and analysis of the ob-tained material. A systematic literature mapping was carried out on Scopus, Google Scholar, Elibrary data-bases. Aspects of the Arctic region development, including the role of logistics and digital infrastructures in this process, are described by scientific schools of Russia, Canada, Norway, China, USA and other countries. The analysis has shown the highly variable state of the subsystems under consideration depending on the specific region, as well as the lack of a comprehensive approach to their joint development and integration. It was stated that there is no such problem statement about the development of communication subsystems of the Arctic zone. On the basis of the analysis, the key directions for the development of logistics and digital infrastructure of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation were formulated. The authors’ recommendations, apart from the obvious tasks of developing sea routes, building and modernizing roads, railways and airports, expanding access to broadband internet and other widely discussed measures, describe the need to integrate the communication subsystems under consideration and focus on the potential of digital technologies to replace and/or supplement the logistics infrastructure in certain aspects.

Data-driven approach to evaluate the impact of hull roughness on main engine load of river-sea ships

Hull roughness increases the ship's resistance during navigation, significantly increasing fuel consumption and emissions. The study proposed the hull fouling factors (HFFs) to evaluate the time-varying impact of hull roughness on main engine load (MEL) for the three bulk carriers. Initially, ships' Automatic Identification System data, operational data, and weather and sea state data were fused to develop predictive models for MEL. Specifically, the Random Forest (RF) model outperformed others in predicting MEL. Then, by adopting a controlled variable experiment, the RF model was utilized to evaluate the impact of hull roughness on MEL as the days since clean (DSC) increased. Hull roughness analysis results showed that the HFFs of ship operated primarily on sea routes showed an increasing trend with the increasing DSCs. In contrast, the HFFs of ships primarily operated on the river-sea routes did not change significantly. The approach revealed significant temporal variations in hull roughness for ships operating in different routes. Besides, the proposed HFFs could capture the impact of sea temperature, salinity, current velocity and ship speed on hull roughness. Overall, the finding provides new insights into the time-varying hull roughness impacts on sea-to-river ships, and supports hull cleaning strategies, energy management and emission estimates.

Quantifying the environmental footprints of biofuels for sustainable passenger ship operations

This study investigates the potential of biofuels to mitigate the environmental impact of passenger vessels. Employing a life cycle assessment methodology, this research comprehensively analyzes the environmental footprint of various fuels throughout the life cycle of a passenger vessel, encompassing construction, fuel production, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning. This study demonstrates the application of life cycle impact assessment to evaluate the environmental footprint of a bio-fueled passenger vessel operating on the Baltic Sea route from Tallinn-Helsinki, Helsinki-Åland, and Åland-Stockholm, totaling a round-trip distance of around 700 nautical miles. Ten different fuels, including several biofuel options, were evaluated using two established impact assessment methodologies. This life cycle assessment study focused on five major environmental impact categories: eutrophication, ozone depletion, climate change, and human and eco-toxicity. A comparative analysis encompassed Heavy fuel oil, bio-hydrotreated vegetable oil, bio-dimethyl ether, marine diesel oil, biodiesel, liquefied natural gas, methanol, bio-methanol, ethanol, and bio-ethanol. Based on impact categories like Global warming potential (GWP 100) and Global temperature potential (GTP 100), the findings suggest significantly lower environmental impacts of biofuels than all other fuel options. Notably, biofuels significantly reduced environmental impact, ranging from 70 % to 90 % per tonne-kilometer across most categories. These results highlight the promise of biofuels as a sustainable alternative fuel source for the maritime transportation sector, potentially reducing their environmental footprints significantly. In summary, biofuels offer a pragmatic and timely approach to enhancing passenger vessels' sustainability and operational efficiency amidst the maritime sector's transition towards a cleaner future.

This Ship Prays: The Southern Chinese Religious Seascape through the Handbook of a Maritime Ritual Master

Long kept in the British Library, a liturgical manuscript from the port of Haicheng, Fujian, holds details of the rich system of beliefs that Chinese sailors held. Originally untitled, the text by the shelfmark OR12693/18 is usually referred to as “Libation Ritual (for Ship Safety)” ([An Chuan] Zhuoxian Ke [(安船)酌献科]). Formerly, it was given scholarly attention mostly due to its addended lists of maritime placenames, which follows Qing-era sea routes across China’s coasts and to the South China Sea. Further inquiry into the manuscript’s terminology, deity names, and maritime knowledge confirms its deep relation to sailors’ lore. By tracing this text into a wide range of sources, this paper demonstrates how manuscript OR12693/18 reflects a cohesive maritime system of beliefs and knowledge. Manifested within the prayer are a hierarchical pantheon, ritual practices, and a perceived sacred seascape. Moreover, it is evident that the manuscript belonged to a tradition of sailing ritual masters who were regular members of the crew onboard junks. As such, this paper offers an analysis of a religious-professional tradition with trans-local aspects, shedding new light on seafaring in pre-modern China.