Shipping Sector Research Articles

Winds of change – Nomadic grassroots innovations in the maritime shipping sector

Grassroots innovations are seen as important contributors to sustainability transitions, however, given their dependence on place-specific conditions they face diffusion challenges. Responding to previously outlined gaps regarding conceptualisation and exploration of the spatiality of grassroots innovations, this paper introduces a conceptualisation of nomadic grassroots innovations. These are grassroots innovations that are mobile and perform activities in multiple places they continuously return to, conceptualised as host localities, while also being based in home localities containing for example offices and key infrastructure. Contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the geography of grassroots activities, the analysis explores the spatiality of socio-technical elements influencing three stages of development (initiation, operations, and upscaling and diffusion) of nine grassroots initiatives promoting a return to traditional sail cargo ships. Findings suggests that nomadic grassroots innovations are dependent on elements in home and host localities as well as from national and international contexts, indicating that the spatiality of nomadic grassroots innovations differs from place-based initiatives throughout all stages of development. Furthermore, analysis of challenges and opportunities for development of nomadic grassroots innovations reveals three key learnings for grassroots innovation diffusion: strategies for developing social cohesion through multi-scalar actor networks, utilising (costumer) demand for alternative solutions, and taking favourable sector conditions as a starting point when designing grassroots innovations. Combined, this could enable development of grassroots innovations that are less dependent on place-specific conditions and thereby easier to replicate, which could increase the capacity of grassroots innovations to tackle global challenges such as climate change.

Analisis Tinggi Gelombang Laut di Perairan Buton Selatan

Wave height information is very much needed by the people of South Buton, especially those who always use sea transportation, therefore this study aims to analyze the sea wave height in the waters of South Buton, using a quantitative descriptive method. The data collection technique is in the form of documentation. The data analysis technique used is a descriptive statistical analysis technique. Wave height information is very much needed by the community, especially in the shipping sector and fishermen in the waters of South Buton. The results of this study show that the wave height in South Buton varies greatly from January to December from 2019, 2020, and 2021. The months with great potential for high waves are January, February, April, and June with an average wave height of 1-3 meters with a wind speed of 4-15 knots. The lowest and moderate waves occur in March, May, July, August, September, October, November, and December. In these months, the average wave height reaches 0-2.5 meters with a wind speed of 6-15 knots.

Developing Maritime Management Curricula: Aligning Industry-Specific Needs with Sustainability and Emerging Technologies

The maritime industry is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements and increased emphasis on sustainability. This research aims to develop a specialized maritime management curriculum that aligns with the needs of the port, shipping, and logistics sectors while incorporating emerging technologies and sustainability practices. Through qualitative research involving 5 maritime professionals, 5 lecturers, and 5 graduates, this study investigates the current gaps in maritime education and the essential competencies needed in modern maritime professions. Using descriptive analysis, the research provides insights into the integration of applied management studies, technical skills, and innovation into the curriculum. The study identifies key areas where existing curricula fall short, including the underrepresentation of technological and sustainability competencies. By examining the experiences of industry professionals and educational experts, a new curriculum framework is proposed, aiming to enhance graduate readiness for modern challenges. The curriculum effectiveness is evaluated using key performance indicators (KPIs), with a 9/10 score on alignment with industry needs. Comprehensive tables illustrate the scoring across various curriculum components, including technology integration, sustainability, and managerial skills. The findings suggest that the proposed curriculum model can significantly improve the employability of graduates, ensuring that they are equipped to meet the dynamic requirements of the maritime industry. Continuous curriculum development, with feedback from industry stakeholders, is recommended to maintain alignment with evolving industry needs.

Research on AIS Data Analysis and Its Integration into Discipline-specific Teaching

The processing of ship AIS (Automatic Identification System) data plays a crucial role in the digital transformation of the shipping industry. From data collection to data storage, data analysis, and data visualization, AIS data processing technology provides robust support for the shipping sector. In terms of data collection, the platform utilizes distributed message queues to aggregate AIS data. For data storage, the platform efficiently manages and stores massive amounts of AIS data using data warehouses. When it comes to data analysis, the platform mines and analyzes AIS data through Lambda, extracting valuable information such as ship trajectories and sailing speeds, thereby supporting areas such as ship management, navigation safety, and marine research. In data visualization, the platform intuitively displays ship navigation status through charts and maps, providing strong support for decision-making. As an essential component of big data applications, AIS data analysis technology is playing an increasingly important role in the shipping industry. The big data technology major of Jiangsu Maritime Institute integrates big data applications like AIS data analysis into its curriculum, taking the upgrading needs of the shipping industry as an entry point. It actively plans the cultivation of composite big data skilled talents under the backdrop of smart shipping, comprehensively serving the upgrading of the shipping industry and promoting the transformation from a major shipping country to a shipping powerhouse.

A Novel BEM for the Hydrodynamic Analysis of Twin-Hull Vessels with Application to Solar Ships

A novel Boundary Element Method (BEM) is presented for predicting the hydrodynamic behavior of twin-hull vessels, traveling at low speeds, aiming to quantify the benefits of integrating solar technology onboard. In particular, the power requirements of an electric 33 m long twin-hull ship are examined. The study discusses the placement of solar panels on deck and assesses their utilization in terms of real-time energy generation, aiming to extend the autonomy range while also reducing carbon emissions. The discussed methodology predicts the power needs by considering various operational variables, design specifications and hydrodynamic principles. In addition, it addresses the viability and possible advantages of integrating solar technology onboard and provides preliminary estimates regarding the extent to which solar energy may compensate for power needs, based on several factors, including the velocity, the prevailing sea state and the incident solar irradiance. The results provide useful information regarding the utilization of solar energy in the shipping sector, in addition to advancing sustainable maritime propulsion.

Assessing the influence of actual LNG emission factors within the EU emissions trading system

The shipping sector has been incorporated into the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS). Undoubtedly, the carbon emission factor is a critical consideration when determining carbon allowances in the EU-ETS, known as EU Allowances (EUAs). In this study, an all-performance carbon emission test was conducted on a marine LNG engine to investigate the differences between the actual carbon emission factor and the reference value. It was observed that the actual carbon emission factor is smaller than the reference value. The test results indicate a discrepancy of approximately 3%, resulting in potential savings of 10,000 to 20,000 dollars in EUAs for a ship consuming 2000 tonnes of LNG fuel annually. Furthermore, variations in the carbon emission factor were observed under different engine operational conditions, fluctuating by around 2% at constant revolutions per minute (RPM). This suggests the need for more suitable emission testing methods to accurately reflect actual emissions and better achieve emission control goals.

Sustainable Maritime Transport: A Review of Intelligent Shipping Technology and Green Port Construction Applications

With the global economy’s relentless growth and heightened environmental consciousness, sustainable maritime transport emerges as a pivotal development trajectory for the shipping sector. This study systematically analyzes 478 publications searched in the Web of Science Core Collection, from 2000 to 2023, utilizing bibliometric methods to investigate the application areas in sustainable development within the shipping industry. This study begins with an analysis of annual publication trends, which reveals a substantial expansion in research endeavors within this discipline over recent years. Subsequently, a comprehensive statistical evaluation of scholarly journals and a collaborative network assessment are conducted to pinpoint the foremost productive journals, nations, organizations, and individual researchers. Furthermore, a keyword co-occurrence methodology is applied to delineate the core research themes and emerging focal points within this domain, thereby outlining potential research directions for future research. In addition, drawing on the keyword co-occurrence analysis, the advancements in intelligent shipping technologies and green port construction applications within sustainable maritime transport are discussed. Finally, the review discusses the existing challenges and opportunities of sustainable maritime transport from a theoretical and practical perspective. The research shows that, in terms of intelligent shipping technology, data security and multi-source data are the focus that people need to pay attention to in the future; a trajectory prediction for different climates and different ship types is also an area for future research. In terms of green ports, Cold Ironing (CI) is one of the key points of the green port strategy, and how to drive stakeholders to build sustainable green ports efficiently and economically is the future developmental direction. This review serves to enhance researchers’ comprehension of the current landscape and progression trajectory of intelligent shipping technologies, thereby fostering the continued advancement and exploration in this vital domain.

Implementation of Discovery Learning Model in Improving Motivation and Learning Outcomes of Civic Education

Many of the students in various educational institutions in the shipping sector consider the subject of civic education to be a less interesting subject to follow so it affects the motivation and learning outcomes of civic education itself. This research is important to be carried out to improve the quality of civic education learning by applying the discovery learning model by inviting students to understand concepts, meanings, and relationships through an intuitive process to conclude finally. This research is also a classroom action research that uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive analysis method. The results of this study are expected to be useful for educators in educational institutions in the shipping sector in applying a new model to be able to increase motivation and learning outcomes.

Exploring the Factors Leading to Diffusion of Alternative Fuels Using a Socio-Technical Transition Approach—A Case Study of LNG as a Marine Fuel in Norway

The maritime shipping sector needs to transition towards a low- or zero-emission future to align with the 1.5 °C temperature goal and the recently adopted and revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A significant research gap exists in understanding how socio-economic and socio-political processes can lead to the adoption of alternative marine fuels that will be essential in meeting the aforementioned goals. The aim of this paper is to use a case study of an existing transition to understand how diffusion takes place, specifically how the adoption of liquified natural gas (LNG) in Norway has unfolded and what lessons can be learnt from this process. To answer this question, a combination of semi-structured interviews with key maritime stakeholders and documentary evidence was collected covering the period from 1985 to 2015. The collected data were analysed through a content analysis approach applying the multilevel perspective (MLP) as a heuristic. The qualitative results paint an interesting picture of the changing attitudes towards LNG as a marine fuel in Norway. In the early years, the adoption of LNG was primarily driven by air pollution and political considerations of using Norwegian natural gas, which over time, evolved into a more focused maritime paradigm painted through the lens of the Norwegian maritime industry under wider regulatory developments such as emission control areas (ECAs). By the 2010s, these drivers were superseded by GHG considerations such as methane slip concerns and a less favourable natural gas market leading to a slowdown of LNG adoption. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding future adoption dynamics of alternative zero-emission fuels, particularly in relation to the role of strong technology champions, institutional modification requirements, and starting conditions for a transition.

Sustainable investing and ownership structure in international shipping companies

ABSTRACT Sustainable investing has been gaining momentum in recent years. This paper investigates the relationship between ownership structure, sustainability performance, and financial performance using a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach in the shipping sector by utilizing 56 listed shipping companies’ financial and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings information. The results provide evidence that institutional ownership is positively associated with ESG scores, particularly from firms listed in the U.S. suggesting these investors’ consciousness in ESG investments in shipping stocks. Conversely, family ownership is negatively related to ESG ratings, while public ownership is more financially performance-driven, but not ESG-conscious. Additionally, firms with larger market capitalization tend to achieve higher ESG scores. However, this study finds no statistically significant relation between sustainability and financial performance. This research enhances the understanding of the investment behavior in the international shipping sector and has implications for investment strategy, investor relationship and policy development.

Linking boundary organizations to co-produce actionable knowledge: A case study of ice forecasting for Great Lakes navigation

Abstract Navigating the Great Lakes during icy conditions poses significant safety challenges for the shipping sector. Available ice information is uncertain and fragmented, and navigators must seek out multiple sources for information at the spatial and temporal scales they require, if the information is available at all. Navigators have expressed that they require more highly localized and easily usable information for current and predicted ice conditions to support decision-making. In this study, we seek to meet this information need by applying a boundary organizations chain (BOC) approach to facilitate the co-production of an actionable short-term Great Lakes ice forecast. We focus on two main aspects of this research: 1) producing an actionable decision-support product that meets the needs of Great Lakes ice navigators, and 2) contributing to the knowledge co-production scholarship on BOCs by providing a detailed account of our methods to create a BOC and co-produce an actionable ice forecast. Our results support incorporating existing communities of practice (COPs) into BOCs to enhance the co-production of actionable knowledge, specifically through increasing their complementarity and embeddedness. COPs are informal networks of users that meet voluntarily to share knowledge and develop professional skills, which we found naturally builds the co-production capacities of participants (e.g. embeddedness and complementarity). We also find that COP members are well positioned to disseminate co-produced knowledge across wider user groups.

Capital Destruction—What is the Cost of Carbon-Neutrality in Shipping Competition?

Abstract The shipping sector must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers demand green travel and transport services, but shipping is still to a large extent powered by fossil fuels. One of the key factors affecting the released emissions onboard the ship is the type of fuel utilized. Technological development is making new kinds of engines running with carbon-neutral fuels available. However, the new build and retrofit projects encountering the green transition have to be planned in detail. We analyze future cash flows of ropax ships operating with different types of fuel systems on an identical route. We base our findings on calculated asset values and internal rates of return. Based on our analysis of the given scenarios, the transition to carbon-neutral fuels comes with a cost for the shipping companies. In the forthcoming shipping competition, ships using fossil fuels will be more likely than their less polluting counterparts to be categorized as stranded assets.

Transport Fleet Electrification Development Conditions—Perspective of Transport, Shipping, and Logistics Industry in Poland

The development of electric vehicle fleets is an important element of today’s economic, social, and ecological development. This multidimensional sustainable process, although not easy, generates many tangible benefits for various stakeholders, ranging from environmental to financial and competence issues. Despite the fact that the phenomenon of transformation toward rational energy management is gaining momentum on a global scale, there is a significant disproportion in terms of development levels depending on the origin of the economy. The aim of this research article is to identify the key factors affecting the development of fleet electrification in the transport, shipping, and logistics (TSL) sector in Poland. Based on a literature review, a fleet development framework was developed using a PESTEL (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal) analysis and evaluated by TSL companies. According to the conclusions drawn, the most important stimulants are economic factors and technological factors, which limit the development of electrified transport fleets in the TSL industry. Based on this, the authors propose various solutions to improve economic profitability and technological conditions. In addition, it was found that the attitudes of the decision makers at transport companies and cooperation within the TSL sector are also important.

Oxyfuel combustion based carbon capture onboard ships

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping sector is a challenging task. While renewable fuels stand out as the most promising long-term solution, their near- and mid-term viability is hampered by limited availability and high costs. An alternative approach is onboard carbon capture, which can reduce emissions from new ships as well as retrofitted vessels. This paper examines the techno-economic potential of oxyfuel combustion based carbon capture on ships. The oxyfuel concept uses an oxygen-rich atmosphere in the combustion process, resulting in a mixture of carbon dioxide and water. After the condensation of water, the carbon dioxide rich gas can be directly stored on board. Various onboard oxygen supply concepts are investigated, including different technologies for onboard air separation and liquid oxygen bunkering. Influences on the ship energy system are studied by system simulation of a deep-sea container vessel. Benchmarked against a technologically mature post-combustion carbon capture system, the results show that the oxyfuel concepts have limited competitiveness because of reduced engine efficiencies and high energy demands for onboard oxygen supply. Avoiding onboard oxygen supply by using liquefied oxygen as a byproduct from onshore electrolysis increases energy efficiency and the competitiveness of oxyfuel combustion but requires additional storage space. Sensitivity analyses highlight that the engine combustion concept and engine efficiency are the most critical influences on the techno-economic performance.

Exploring seafarers' knowledge, understanding, and proficiency in SEEMP: A strategic training framework for enhancing seafarers' competence in energy-efficient ship operations

With 2.89 % of global carbon emissions caused by human activity, the maritime industry faces an imminent challenge in curbing its carbon footprint despite regulatory initiatives. As the shipping sector expands, the industry faces a projected increase in carbon emissions. Recognizing the key role of seafarers in emission reduction, this article introduces a comprehensive training framework designed to enhance awareness, knowledge, understanding, and skills for implementing energy-efficient ship operations. This study utilizes structural equation modeling to assess the effectiveness of seafarers' training on energy-efficient operation of ships (EEOS) by surveying 144 seafarers across 42 shipping companies worldwide and using structured questionnaires. This study found significant positive correlations between implementing the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) and the training programs initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and shipping companies. The results of this study indicate that traditional institutional and specialized training programs on EEOS are relatively ineffective for seafarers in implementing SEEMP onboard ships. Furthermore, the study argues that computer and simulator-based training facilitates knowledge, understanding, and proficiency of SEEMP among seafarers more effectively than the onboard training provided by the ship's master and the chief engineer. The proposed training framework emphasizes the importance of initial training using the IMO E-Learning course and IMO “Train the Trainer” programs, followed by shipping companies' in-house training by classification societies, company project teams, and simulator-based training by service providers. The study proposes a strategic training framework that encompasses in-house training conducted by shipping companies in collaboration with partners, simulator-based training provided by specialized training providers, and ongoing onboard training facilitated by the vessel's master and chief engineer, with integration of computer-based training (CBT). This strategic approach intends to improve seafarers' competence in energy-efficient ship operations to meet predetermined carbon intensity targets, which aligns with the broader goal of leading the maritime industry toward a future of net-zero emissions.

Linking ship-associated emissions and resource development in the Arctic: Trends and predictions along the Northern Sea Route

Arctic ship traffic has increased significantly due to continuous sea ice loss and resource extraction. The shipping sector is an important contributor to atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), and an increase in ship activity will lead to significant increases in these emissions. However, there is a lack of studies linking ship activities and the associated emissions with recent Arctic resource development activities. This study aims to assess the relationship between sector-specific developments (fishing, tourism, trade, oil, gas, mining, and “others”) and ship traffic, and the associated emissions from 2013 to 2023 along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), using time series analysis and linear regression. In addition, the relationships were further used to predict future ship-associated emissions by 2030, utilizing a combination of regression models and Holt-Winters’ trend and seasonal forecast. Results showed a 61% increase in distance travelled, 115% increase in NOx emissions, and 68% increase in SO2 emissions from 2013 to 2023. A strong positive linear relationship between oil and gas production and the ship-associated emissions of NOx and SO2 was found, with a coefficient of determination as high as 0.97. The oil sector emerged as the largest contributor to emissions from 2017 onward. Projections indicate that NOx and SO2 emissions will be more than doubled, reaching 12,400 and 1200 tonnes, respectively, by 2030, of which the oil sector accounts for 45 and 61% of the total emissions. This highlights the need for further emissions reduction measures, especially with expanding Arctic oil projects, in order to mitigate the environmental impact of increased resource-driven shipping along the NSR.

Analisa Penyebab Short Cargo terhadap Muatan Soda Ash pada Pelabuhan Java Intergrated Industrial and Port Estate (JIIPE)

Indonesia is a country located in a strategic area, this makes the shipping sector in Indonesia a very important means of transportation and carrier in the world of international trade and transportation, making loading and unloading services mostly carried out in Indonesia. Therefore, the author conducted research to find out the process of unloading soda ash cargo at JIIPE Port and to find out the causes of short cargo occurring in soda ash cargo at JIIPE Port. This research was carried out with the aim of finding out the process of unloading soda ash at JIIPE port, then to find out the causes of short cargo in the performance of soda ash unloading at JIIPE port. In conducting this research the author used qualitative research methods with techniques in the form of conducting observations, interviews with the staff concerned, and carrying out documentation. From the results of observations, interviews and documentation of findings that the author obtained when conducting research, namely that there was a leak of soda ash cargo in the unloading equipment during soda ash unloading activities at JIIPE port which caused the soda ash cargo to become short cargo from the predetermined manifest. By implementing correct operational standards and using appropriate tools, it is hoped that the process of unloading soda ash can be improved and can minimize short cargo incidents when unloading soda ash. It is hoped that the results of this research will provide insight for loading and unloading companies to reduce losses due to short cargo and can also optimize logistics services at the Java Integrated Industrial and Port Estate port.

Round-trip multimodal transportation routes planning for foldable vehicle racks

ABSTRACT Over the past decade, the expansion of China’s auto exports and pulp imports has presented challenges to the international shipping sector. This study examines the features inherent in the novel paradigm employed by COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers. Specifically, it involves the transportation of Foldable Vehicle Racks (FVRs) using multipurpose pulp carriers on the outbound trip, and the conveyance of pulp alongside empty FVRs on the return voyage. Building upon this foundation, we propose a dual-objective route planning model and construct a round-trip multimodal transportation network. Subsequently, we calculate the optimal scheme, encompassing shipping routes, changeover nodes, and transport modes, using a hybrid genetic and ant colony algorithm. The paper scrutinizes the computational results, validates the effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm, and analyzes the scheme variations across different parameter scenarios, along with conducting a sensitivity analysis. The optimal solution calculated in this paper is found to reduce transit time by 24.77% while improving logistics benefits by 4.11% compared to the firm’s existing shipping schedule. Furthermore, we explore alternative optimal logistics routes in various parameter variation scenarios and considering benefit-time preferences. Eventually, six managerial insights are proposed for the sustainable development of COSCO’s FVR and pulp business based on the experimental results.

Does climate policy uncertainty drive the extreme spillovers of carbon-energy-shipping markets?

In addressing the ramifications of climate change, the shipping industry, reliant on energy, has been integrated into the Emissions Trading System (ETS). This study utilizes the quantile connectedness model to investigate the information spillover mechanisms and extreme time-varying interconnections among carbon, energy, and shipping markets. Whether climate policy uncertainty drives the extreme interconnections is also discussed during both pre- and post-Paris Agreement periods, by using GARCH-MIDAS model. The empirical findings underscore the following key points: (i) the systemic connectedness is highly sensitive to market conditions and major events, increasing significantly under extreme market conditions; (ii) following the implementation of the Paris Agreement, an elevated level of informational interdependence has manifested between the carbon market and the energy and shipping sectors; (iii) the information transfer mechanism between carbon and shipping sectors creates direct and indirect spillover paths, with crude oil market mediating the indirect path; (iv) climate policy uncertainty greatly affects the extreme time-varying interconnections, and this impact has decreased after the Paris Agreement came into effect. These results offer valuable insights for market policymakers and shipping companies in achieving a balance between carbon emission reduction and shipping business, particularly amidst heightened climate policy uncertainty.

IMPACT OF MAJOR CRISES ON CONTAINER SHIPPING IN TÜRKİYE: THE CASE OF THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

The Covid-19 outbreak is a recent major crisis with a broad and lasting impact on the economy, health, and society, rather than an immediate and temporary impact. In the first months following the declaration of the pandemic, the container shipping sector in Türkiye was impacted by restrictions and quarantine measures. During this period, there were reductions in ship calls, slowdowns in ship operations, and losses in storage and warehousing services. Although container volumes in Türkiye were less impacted than the global average, the previously stable growth trend came to a halt. This study examines the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on container shipping in Türkiye as a case study. Relevant literature and statistical data were analyzed to provide a detailed examination of the specific impacts in Türkiye. In addition, the study aims to support national goals and increase resilience to future crises by providing recommendations for the stakeholders and national policy makers. These recommendations include the adoption of digitalization and blockchain technologies, regional expansion of maritime trade, considering storage strategies and developing logistics infrastructure.