Shipping Network Research Articles

Alliance and network in maritime shipping industry

ABSTRACT This paper presents adiscussion of ways of designing atransport network by allied carriers for maritime shipping, specifically examining performance differences between hub–spoke (HS) and multiple-port-call (MPC) models. We explain, theoretically, the mechanisms of changing the liner shipping network configuration and the carrier alliances. The salient results indicate the following: (i) HS is more profitable for allied carriers than MPC is; (ii) allied carriers under HS, even if they deploy smaller ships, can have some margin to gain greater profits than under MPC. These findings imply that switching to HS from MPC can be accomplished not only by deploying mega-ships but also through business combinations such as alliances or mergers and acquisitions.

Stability and energy consumption analysis of arctic fleet: modeling and simulation based on future motion of multi-ship.

Ensuring the safety of Arctic shipping and preserving the Arctic ecological environment are emerging as key challenges in the shipping sector. Ship collisions and getting trapped in ice are frequently occurring under dynamic ice conditions due to the Arctic environment, making research on ship navigation in Arctic routes significant. Leveraging ship networking technology, we developed an intelligent microscopic model which considered factors such as the future motion trends of multi-ships in front and the influence of pack ice, and carried out a stability analysis of the model utilizing linear and nonlinear methods. Additionally, the accuracy of the theoretical results was further validated through simulation experiments with diverse scenarios. The conclusions manifest that the model can magnify the anti-disturbance ability of traffic flow. Additionally, the problem of energy consumption due to ship speed is explored, and it is determined that the model has a positive intention in reducing speed fluctuations and ship energy consumption. This paper highlights the potential of intelligent microscopic models in studying the safety and sustainability of Arctic shipping routes, providing targeted initiatives to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in Arctic shipping.

Deriving spatial wave data from a network of buoys and ships

The real-time provision of high-quality estimates of the ocean wave parameters at appropriate spatial resolutions are essential for the sustainable operations of marine structures. Machine learning affords considerable opportunity for providing additional value from sensor networks, fusing metocean data collected by various platforms. Exploiting the ship-as-a-wave-buoy concept, this article proposes the integration of vessel-based observations into a wave-nowcasting framework. Surrogate models are trained using a high-fidelity physics-based nearshore wave model to learn the spatial correlations between grid points within a computational domain. The performance of these different models are evaluated in a case study to assess how well wave parameters estimated through the spectral analysis of ship motions can perform as inputs to the surrogate system, to replace or complement traditional wave buoy measurements. The benchmark study identifies the advantages and limitations inherent in the methodology incorporating ship-based wave estimates to improve the reliability and availability of regional sea state information.

An adaptive heuristic for Feeder Network Design with optional transshipment

This paper studies the Feeder Network Design Problem (FNDP), which considers the design of a minimum cost liner shipping network for the transportation of cargo (containers) between a given hub port and a set of feeder ports. In addition to determining the services to operate (i.e., the routes), the FNDP deals with deciding the fleet of vessels to deploy on these services. In contrast to most FNDPs previously studied in the literature, the feeder network can, if found beneficial, be a hub-and-spoke system where cargo can be transshipped at any feeder ports. Thus, we denote our problem as the Feeder Network Design with Optional Transshipment (FND-OT). To solve the FND-OT, we propose a novel adaptive Heuristic with a special data structure for solution representation, which gives significant speed-ups. Furthermore, a new escape algorithm is used to escape from local optima. We show that the adaptive heuristic outperforms an existing solution algorithm in the literature on a set of realistic test instances. We also present results for a new set of instances adapted from a previously published benchmark suite (LINER-LIB) and show that including the possibility of having cargo transshipment in the FNDP can give significant benefits and reduced costs.

A Decision Support GIS Framework for Establishing Zero-Emission Maritime Networks: The Case of the Greek Coastal Shipping Network

Sustainability of maritime operations is a topic widely considered in recent years, as the shipping industry attempts to limit its environmental impact and meet the decarbonization goals set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). As alternative fuels and newer ship technologies are gaining interest, the shift to more environmentally friendly fleets is quickly becoming a reality. In this context, potential areas for such shifts need to be determined, to expedite decarbonization efforts and provide passengers with a more sustainable way of travel. Greece is an insular country, with a complex coastal shipping network connecting the mainland with the islands and being of paramount importance for their economic growth. Recognizing accessibility and decarbonization needs, this paper examines whether the Greek coastal shipping network (GCSN) can be restructured, by introducing zero-emission sub-networks operated by electric ferries. The aim is to propose a methodological framework for the spatial analysis and evaluation of coastal networks, with the implementation of exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) methods and determination of local indicators of spatial association (LISA) with the help of geographic information systems (GIS). The proposed framework provides insight on whether and where such a restructuring is possible, with the introduction of new transshipment port hubs in the islands from which electric ferries could operate, thus determining potential electrification areas with additionally high renewable resource potential. Final conclusions indicate that a potential electrification of certain parts of the GCSN could be possible, while results for GHG emissions reduced by the introduction of electric ferries are calculated.

Two-Hop Biconnected Components in the Global Liner Shipping Network Reveal International Trade Statuses

Two-Hop Biconnected Components in the Global Liner Shipping Network Reveal International Trade Statuses

Real-Time Risk Detection Method and Protection Strategy for Intelligent Ship Network Security Based on Cloud Computing

When studying an unfamiliar system, we first look for the symmetry that the system has, so that we can make many predictions about the possible properties of the system. The symmetry in ship network security needs to maintain a stable state and maintain a constant state of ship network security. With the rapid development of network information technology, smart ships have become a new hot spot in the international shipping industry. The smart ships cybersecurity discussion is also at the top of the list in the maritime field. More and more shipping companies feel that their smart ship systems need to be upgraded and the main reason behind this is that the systems are maliciously attacked by cyber hackers. Therefore, it is extremely important to detect and protect the security of intelligent ship network systems in real time. The issue of network security has always accompanied the whole process of the development of the Internet. At the same time, with the development of Internet technology, network hacking attacks against the Internet have never stopped developing, and traditional ship network security risk detection and protection cannot achieve good results. After understanding the operation mode of intelligent ship networks, this paper deeply studied the characteristics of cloud computing technology and proposed a real-time risk detection method and protection strategy for intelligent ship network security based on cloud computing. This paper mainly used multi-sensor nodes to analyze data containing malicious attack information and implemented self-execution protection strategy generation nodes to intercept and protect from the attack, so as to achieve the purpose of maintaining the network security of intelligent ships. Through experiments, the virus intrusion detection and defense rate of the algorithm proposed in this paper was able to reach 85% to 95%, while the virus intrusion detection defense rate of the traditional intelligent ship network security protection algorithm was 55% to 65%. The detection rate of the algorithm proposed in this paper was able to reach 96.95% and the false positive rate was 2.56%. The detection rate of the traditional algorithm was only 70.76%, while the false positive rate reached 4.69%. All of the proposed algorithm’s data were significantly better than that of traditional algorithms, which proved that the performance of cloud computing-based real-time risk detection and protection algorithms for intelligent ship network security was significantly better than that of traditional algorithms.

Assessing the efficiency and vulnerability of global liner shipping network

AbstractGlobal liner shipping network (GLSN) constitutes an essential part of global maritime supply chains, but it could be vulnerable to disruptions. This paper develops an integrated framework for assessing the efficiency and vulnerability of GLSN. Specifically, a novel efficiency metric is proposed to quantify the performance of GLSN, and the framework enables modeling different levels of port disruption scenarios. Results show that the overall GLSN is quite robust under the partial disruption scenario of any single port (or of any single country's ports), but the damage to different countries is highly heterogeneous. Under dismantling scenarios where the identified most critical ports (countries) are successively disrupted, the GLSN vulnerability increases non‐linearly with an increasing level of disruption. Our findings demonstrate that it is necessary to monitor and protect the identified critical ports (countries); especially, avoiding their simultaneously complete disruptions is of vital importance to the robust functionality of GLSN.

Reliable Liner Shipping Hub Location Problem Considering Hub Failure

Hub ports play an important role in reducing the number of container routes and saving the operating costs of liner companies. However, hub failures caused by uncertainties such as natural disasters may cause huge recovery costs. Considering the accidental failure probability of hub ports and the reallocation of feeder ports, a global reliable liner shipping hub location problem (RLSHLP) is studied. We use the k-means algorithm to divide the global shipping network into different communities and propose two mixed integer linear programs to determine the hub port of each community. Then Benders decomposition algorithm is applied to the global RLSHLP and compared with our method. Numerical experiments verify the effectiveness of our method and determine the optimal hub port location scheme considering hub failure.

Collaborative search and rescue based on swarm of H-MASSs using consensus theory

Swarm of marine autonomous surface ships (MASSs) constitutes the most critical part in maritime search and rescue (MSR). A collaborative consensus strategy for the swarm of heterogeneous MASSs (H-MASSs) is proposed, which realizes large-scale continuous and efficient search after marine incidents. (1). The MSR area is allocated according to the search and rescue capability (SRC) of H-MASSs based on the drift model; (2). Based on the search and rescue progress rate (SRPR), a consensus controller is designed to make the swarm of H-MASSs collaborate to complete the task synchronously; (3). Line-of-Sight method is improved to ensure stable path tracking of swarm. The experimental verification and efficiency comparison shows that the collaborative consensus strategy improves the efficiency by 42% compared with the strategy without considering the SRC, and is 22% higher than the decentralized control strategy, which has strong efficiency and stability. It can provide a theoretical basis for the large-scale cooperative operation of the swarm of H-MASSs in the future, and gradually realize the autonomous navigation of the swarm of H-MASSs formation in the whole sea area with the development of ship networking technology.

Maritime connectivity, transport infrastructure expansion and economic growth: A global perspective

Improving transport connectivity has become increasingly significant to international trade research and transport policy agendas. Little has been done so far to investigate the direct association between maritime connectivity and economic growth, let alone the exact effect magnitude. As the connection between ports, local economies, and global logistics networks becomes ever closer, the economic role of port connectivity deserves closer attention. This paper uses the Panama Canal expansion as a quasi-natural experiment, and proposes a dynamic difference-in-differences (DID) method for making causal inferences about the impact of port connectivity on regional economic growth. This study leverages data mining of multiple sources of satellite data to provide innovative measures of ship movement, port area, and economic activity. We construct an index based on the global shipping network data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to measure the extent to which the ports are exposed to the canal expansion. This allows careful handling of the endogeneity problem. Change in the port area is used as a proxy for port capacity expansion, and is identified via satellite imaging. Night light data provide a measure of regional economic activity around the ports, and of the effect of port connectivity on regional economic growth. Our findings suggest that improvements in port connectivity have a significant and fairly durable stimulating effect on regional economic growth, and that port infrastructure expansion is one potential channel for realizing this effect.

A Port Importance Evaluation Method Based on the Projection Pursuit Model in Shipping Networks

Shipping networks face natural or man-made port emergencies, and the failure of a port affects the network’s connectivity and efficiency. It is very necessary to give priority to the selection of ports that should be maintained or ensure service capacity in case of port failure. The importance evaluation of ports is of great significance to improve the efficiency of maritime transport. In view of this, this paper proposed a port importance evaluation method in shipping networks integrating the centrality index and vulnerability index. The indexes are, respectively, degree centrality, weighted degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, change rate of network efficiency, and connectivity. The weight of each index is calculated by the projection pursuit model. The results show that the proposed method integrates the different performances of each index. The importance of Singapore port, Colombo port, and Port Klang rank as the top three. They are the hub ports of the main lines of Asia, Europe, and Africa and occupy extremely important core positions in the network. Finally, the ports are classified based on importance value, and the shipping network after the failure of some ports is compared. This research can provide a scientific basis for ensuring the efficiency, connectivity, and stability of shipping networks.

Evaluation of Electric Power Quality in the Ship-Integrated Electrical Power System with a Main DC Bus and Power Semiconductor Electric Drives as Part of the Electric Propulsion Complex

The relevance of the work is connected to the energy efficiency of specialized vessels of the technical fleet. The purpose of the study was to determine and evaluate the power quality indicators associated with the non-sinusoidal shape of the voltage and current curves in the electrical power system of the marine platform support vessel, which contains powerful semiconductor propulsion electric drives, taking into account the inherent and parasitic parameters of the power three-phase cable lines. A simplified one-line diagram of an electric power system with a DC main bus was the object of the study, which was compiled as a result of the analysis of analog systems typical for the indicated type of vessels. The phenomenon of voltage and current distortion caused by the presence of higher harmonics generated by power semiconductor converters in a three-phase ship network was the subject of the research. For the experimental study of the quality of electric power according to the simplified one-line scheme of the electric power system in MATLAB Simulink, its model was created. Based on the proven methods of calculating the ship’s electrical equipment, a methodology was developed for the reliable determination of model parameters. According to the results of the experiment in MATLAB Simulink, qualitative and quantitative indicators were obtained regarding the non-sinusoidality of the linear voltage and current of the three-phase network (curve shapes, amplitude spectra, distortion coefficients), and their comparative analysis with the current norms and standards was performed. In contrast to the previous ones, the methodology for assessing the quality of electricity in the studied electric power system takes into account its circuit, mode features, and the presence of a parasitic capacitance “phase to ground” of a three-phase network, and it can be used in solving similar non-trivial tasks for various similar structurally modified systems.

Bibliometric Review of Route Optimization in Maritime Transportation: Environmental Sustainability and Operational Efficiency

Route optimization in maritime transportation provides enormous cost saving and efficient resource allocation for companies. Shipping companies need to create an optimized route for shipping fleets. That is why route optimization has gained considerable and increasing attention in maritime transportation literature over the past few years. This research aims to identify the theoretical cornerstones, current research trends, and possible research avenues for future studies by reviewing 256 peer-reviewed route optimization articles in maritime transportation literature. For this purpose, first, theoretical cornerstones of route optimization in maritime transportation literature were examined by co-citation analysis and three clusters were identified: fleet routing and deployment; liner shipping rotation; and optimization of fuel consumption and vessel speeds. Second, current research trends of route optimization in maritime transportation literature were uncovered via bibliographic coupling analysis. The analysis results revealed that current research trends could be considered in four clusters: route planning; routing under different weather conditions; liner shipping network and service design; and environmental speed optimization. Finally, author-keyword analysis was performed to specify knowledge gaps and recommend future research areas.

Prioritizing management of high-risk routes and ports by vessel type to improve marine biosecurity efforts

The shipping industry constitutes the main vector of marine bioinvasions. Over 90,000 vessels world-wide create a highly complex shipping network that requires appropriate management tools. Here we characterized a novel vessel category, Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV), in terms of potential contribution to the dispersal of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) in comparison to smaller vessels traveling similar routes. Such approach is essential for providing precise information-based risk analysis necessary to enforce biosecurity regulations and reduce the adverse global effects of marine NIS. We used Automatic Identification System (AIS) based websites to extract shipping data that will enable us to test for differences in two vessel behaviors linked to NIS dispersal: port visit durations and voyage sailing times. We then examined the geographic spread of ULCVs and small vessels, quantifying the accumulation of new port visits, countries, and ecoregions for each vessel category. Finally, Higher Order Network (HON) analysis revealed emergent patterns within shipping traffic, species flow, and invasion risk networks of these two categories. Compared to the smaller vessels, ULCVs spent significantly longer time in 20% of the ports and were more geographically constrained, with fewer port visits, countries, and regions. HON analysis revealed that the ULCV shipping species flow and invasion risk networks were more similar to each other than to those of the smaller vessels. However, HON port importance shifts were discernible for both vessel categories, with major shipping hubs not necessarily being major invasion hubs. Overall, compared to smaller vessels, ULCVs behave differently in ways that potentially increase biofouling risk, albeit in a smaller set of ports. Future studies using HON analysis of other dispersal vectors appears critical for prioritizing management of high-risk routes and ports.

Operational productivity and financial performance of pure transhipment hubs versus gateway terminals: An empirical investigation on Italian container ports

The sea–sea transhipment of containers between vessels has become a key part of the container handling activities in the global maritime shipping network constituting 25.8% of the worldwide container port throughput in 2017 (Drewry Shipping Consultants, 2018). Since the 1990s, the global port system has seen the development of pure transhipment hubs close to interoceanic passages (Straits of Malacca, Suez Canal, Panama Canal, etc.) and port sites at other strategic maritime locations. Some regional markets, such as the Mediterranean Sea, seem to offer the right conditions for the emergence of pure transhipment hubs characterized by a transhipment incidence, i.e., the share of sea-sea transhipped containers in the terminal's total container traffic, of >65% (Notteboom et al., 2019).Although prior academic papers have stressed main issues related to pure transhipment hubs' competitive and operational performance, no contributions have investigated their link with economic and financial performance. This paper aims at analysing the main drivers that are expected to shape transhipment hubs' profitability and to compare their financial performance with gateway terminals (focused on import/export cargo only) and terminals handling a mix of gateway and transhipment flows. A database is developed consisting of the operational, economic and financial data of main Italian container terminals for the period 2009–2020. An OLS statistical model is tested for investigating the relationships between economic-financial performance and technical-operational performance of pure transhipment hubs compared to gateway and mixed terminals.The findings reveal that, for the same operational performance, terminals predominantly focused on transhipment activities tend to reach significantly lower levels of profitability compared to gateway and mixed terminals. It is also demonstrated that these terminals have a lower ability to create a positive cash flow and income compared to gateway and mixed terminals. The research outcomes provide useful insights for both port managers and policy makers involved in the development and management of pure transhipment hubs.

Resilience characteristics of port nodes from the perspective of shipping network: Empirical evidence from China

Ports are both the start and end points of shipping, they are connected by shipping routes, thereby forming a port shipping network that connects global industries and supply chains. Each port node has specific functions within the network, while its capacity to resist interference differs from that of other ports; consequently, when encountering external shocks, ports are not affected equally. Therefore, this paper proposes the concept of port node resilience from the perspective of the shipping network. This is achieved by analyzing the literature on regional, urban, and network resilience. Thereafter, by fully considering the complexity of port nodes' linkages, as well as their attributes vis-à-vis the shipping network, a three-dimensional (structure, function, and location) econometric model of port-node resilience is constructed. By examining data from China's container ports for the years 2008 and 2018, this study analyzes port nodes' resilience characteristics and the differences in space. The results indicate that the studied port nodes' resilience index presents the characteristic of clustering. Further, the average resilience index increased from 0.25 (low) to 0.43 (medium). The differences in port nodes' regional resilience narrowed, while their absorption and transformation capacity improved when facing external interference.

LNG Bunkering Station Deployment Problem—A Case Study of a Chinese Container Shipping Network

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a promising measure to reduce shipping emissions and alleviate air pollution problem, especially in coastal areas. Currently, the lack of a complete infrastructure system is preventing the extensive application of dual-fueled ships that are mainly LNG-powered. Given that groups of LNG bunkering stations are under establishment in various countries and areas, the construction plan becomes critical. In this paper, we focus on the LNG bunkering station deployment problem, which identifies the locations of the stations to be built. A large-scale case study of China’s container shipping network was conducted. The problem scale of this case paper exceeds those in previous academic studies. Thus, this study better validates the model and solution method proposed than numerical experiments that are randomly generated. Sensitive analyses on the LNG price, bunkering station construction costs, and total budget were carried out. The results yielded provide practical suggestions and managerial insights for the competent department. In addition to building a complete bunkering system, subsidies to ship operators for consuming LNG and higher production efficiency in bunkering station construction also help promote the application of LNG as marine fuel.

Data-driven framework for extracting global maritime shipping networks by machine learning

Data-driven framework for extracting global maritime shipping networks by machine learning

Empirical Analysis of the Cruise Shipping Network in Asia

The cruise shipping market has been growing dynamically in the past two decades. This study presented an empirical analysis of the Asian cruise shipping network (ACSN) in which the nodes are cruise ports and links are cruise routes connecting the ports, using complex network analysis. An analysis of 245 voyages operated by 16 cruise lines between 215 ports in 26 countries found that ports in the ACSN are connected by 704 links. The ACSN is a small-world network with a small average path length and a high clustering coefficient, and its degree distribution follows an exponential function. A small number of ports have high connectivity, and most ports have low connections. Most high-degree ports connect to low-degree ports. The important roles and properties of ports vary depending on centrality measures.