Short Sea Shipping Research Articles

Autonomous shipping initiative for European waters

Autonomous shipping initiative for European waters AUTOSHIP aims at speeding-up the transition towards a next generation of autonomous ships in EU. The project will build and operate two different autonomous vessels, demonstrating their operative capabilities in Short Sea Shipping and Inland Water Ways scenarios, with a focus on goods mobility.

Application of fuel cells with zero-carbon fuels in short-sea shipping

This paper investigates the viability of different fuel cell types in a ship power system, where hydrogen and ammonia are considered as zero-carbon fuels. The identification of alternatives to diesel-powered ships is performed by taking into account the environmental and economic indicators of the considered power systems, determined by Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA), and further compared with the existing diesel power systems of three passenger ships operating in Croatian coastal waters. Special attention is paid to fuel origin, where fossil fuels (grey fuel), fossil fuels followed by CO2 capture (blue fuel), and those produced from renewable energy sources (green fuel) are considered. The results of the research indicate that fuel cell systems with grey hydrogen and grey ammonia are not environmentally friendly, while fuel cell systems with the blue and green types of these fuels have a lower impact on the environment than a diesel-powered ship, with a reduction of up to 84% in CO2-eq emissions when green ammonia is used. Regarding profitability, the diesel-powered ship has the lowest total costs, while the second most cost-effective option is the fuel cell system with blue ammonia as fuel with 27%-43% higher costs than a diesel-powered ship, depending on which type of fuel cell is used. Although blue ammonia is a cheaper fuel than diesel fuel, the lifetime costs of the fuel cell power system are affected by relatively high investment costs (fuel cell, battery, cracker, etc.) and equipment replacement costs.

Effect of Fuel Price on Sailing Speeds in Short-Sea Shipping

Effect of Fuel Price on Sailing Speeds in Short-Sea Shipping

A Sustainable Mobility Paradigm for Short-Sea Shipping - the Case of Norway

A Sustainable Mobility Paradigm for Short-Sea Shipping - the Case of Norway

Short-Sea Shipping Contributions to Particles Concentration in Coastal Areas: Impact and Mitigation

Short-Sea Shipping Contributions to Particles Concentration in Coastal Areas: Impact and Mitigation

How (in)elastic is the demand for short-sea shipping? A review of elasticities and application of different models to Swedish freight flows

ABSTRACT Despite high ambitions, policies for a modal shift in Europe have largely been unsuccessful. Part of the explanation relates to the inelasticity of freight transport demand. Understanding the demand elasticity of freight transport is important to design and appraise policies for external cost reductions in the transport sector. There have been many studies focused on estimating the elasticity of demand for short-sea shipping, a mode which policy makers have often aimed to strengthen to facilitate a modal shift from road freight. The objective of this review is to build upon the available literature by presenting and comparing estimated elasticities and to demonstrate the state of evidence through the application of two methodological approaches. Our review shows that there is a surprising degree of variation in elasticity estimates, part of which can likely be explained by differing methodological approaches. Applying a deterministic cost-minimising freight transport model and a stochastic multinomial logit approach based on responses from the Swedish Cargo Flow Survey, we demonstrate the inelasticity of Swedish maritime freight flows and provide suggestions for future research and policy discussions. For future studies of maritime transport demand elasticities to arrive at reliable and policy-relevant results, we highlight the need for combined and pluralistic methodological approaches and an increased use of real-world data.

Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Short Sea Shipping: Evidence from Northeast Asian Routes

Nowadays, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) is an important mode for short sea shipping (SSS) due to its advantages of fast and convenient load and unloading system. Despite the advantages, the market share of Ro-Ro is insignificant compared with lift-on/lift-off (Lo-Lo) in the Northeast Asian region that is geographically suitable for fostering SSS. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have a better understanding of the effectiveness or Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo in the regional SSS market. For this purpose, this paper develops a model to estimate the total logistics cost of the two transportation modes. The total logistics costs of Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo are calculated on three major SSS routes between Korea and Japan. The results show that Lo-Lo outperforms Ro-Ro on most routes in terms of the cost effectiveness, and Ro-Ro is competitive only for high-priced and time-sensitive cargo. However, it is also documented that Ro-Ro transport has a significant impact on reduction in the total logistics costs when companies integrate the supply chain and improve the cooperative relationship to a high level.

A probabilistic model to evaluate the resilience of unattended machinery plants in autonomous ships

Over the next few years, digitalization and automation are expected to be key drivers for maritime transport innovation to be key drivers for maritime transportation innovation. This revolutionary shift in the shipping industry will heavily impact the reliability of the machinery which is intended to be operated remotely with minimum support from humans. Despite a large amount of research into autonomous navigation and control systems in maritime transportation, the evaluation of unattended engine rooms has received very little attention. For autonomous vessels to be effective during their unmanned mission, it is essential for the engine room understand its health condition and self-manage performance. The unattended machinery plant (UMP) should be resilient enough to have the ability to survive and recover from unexpected perturbations, disruptions, and operational degradations. Otherwise, the system may require unplanned maintenance or the operation will stop. Therefore, the UMP must continue its operation without human intervention and safely return the ship to port. This paper aims to develop a machine learning-based model to predict an UMP's performance and estimate how long the engine room can operate without human assistance. A Random Process Tree is used to model failures in the unattended components, while a Hierarchical Bayesian Inference is adopted to facilitate the prediction of unknown parameters in the process. A probabilistic Bayesian Network developed and evaluated the dependent relationship between active and standby components to assess the effect of redundant units in the performance of unattended machinery. The present framework will provide helpful additional information to evaluate the associate uncertainties and predict the untoward events that put the engine room at risk. The results highlight the model's ability to predict the UMP's trusted operation period and evaluate an unattended engine room's resilience. A real case study of a merchant vessel used for short sea shipping in European waters is considered to demonstrate the model's application.

Articulating intermodal chains through short-sea shipping: a method for assessing the performance of East African ports

ABSTRACT The location of East African ports, along with difficulties in building and maintaining effective road corridors, has led to the consideration of intermodal transport through Short Sea Shipping (SSS) as an alternative for load transport. However, this potential solution is dependent on the ports as consolidation load centres and on the configuration of transport networks. This paper provides a method to evaluate the performance of East African ports in their role as a hub for the intermodal chain. Specifically, through an assessment of port indicators ad hoc, the method jointly evaluates the performance of the hinterland’s capillary haul and port operations. The proposed indicators aggregately consider attributes of time and cost and compare competitiveness for ports’ current status with standard parameters. The application of the method to East African ports reveals that their tariff structure should be adapted to the operative reality of SSS. In addition, the loading time has not proven to be as determinant as the pre-berthing waiting time in the effectiveness of the intermodal chains.

ESTIMATING THE COST OF GREENING OF SHORTSEA VESSELS AND THE MARKET POTENTIAL OF GREEN RETROFIT

Shortsea shipping (SSS) has attracted the interest of re-searchers and policy-makers as a viable transport alternative against mainly road haulage. Despite policy initiatives, SSS has not increased its market share nor attracted fresh interest in the market, so the fleet is ageing. Lately, due to the de-carbonization effort of the maritime industry and generally of greening the economy, SSS becomes an interesting trans-port alternative that deserves further research. This work focuses on the cost of decarbonising the global SSS fleet with a parallel interest on the EU fleet. This cost estimation is based on recent publications, and considers ships expected to be ordered and demolished; for the existing fleet the cost of retrofitting with greening technology is also estimated. Based on reasonable assumptions, the potential market of wind-assisted technologies is estimated too. This work is an outcome of the WASP Interreg project.

The Impact of the Internalization of External Costs in the Competitiveness of Short Sea Shipping

This paper applies a methodology for computing external costs in an intermodal transport network that includes short sea shipping to explore the impact of external costs in its competitiveness. The network, which includes roads, freight railways, maritime and inland waterway connections, considers the specific characteristics of different transport alternatives and vehicle types, providing a fair comparison of the various modes. A case study focused on freight transportation between Northern Portugal and 75 destinations (NUTS2 regions) in north-western Europe is presented. The potential of different intermodal routes that include short sea shipping is assessed, including not only internal costs and times but also external costs per mode and unit of cargo. The impact of the different cost approaches in each country of transit is shown along with the progress that has been made in the integration of external costs, using the most recent EU estimates on marginal costs coverage ratios per country for freight transport modes. The results support the modal shift from road to sea in this corridor, providing means for modal comparison and for the development of short sea shipping’s image as a sustainable mode of transportation.

Evaluation of Modal Shift in Freight Transport: Case Study of Poland

Purpose: This paper aimed to assess the degree of implementation of the modal shift concept in international transport flows to/from Poland. Design/Methodology/Approach: The first stage of the research study included the literature review indicating the Polish and EU projects aimed at promoting the transport modes being an alternative for road transport. Next, data regarding Poland’s international trade were prepared and confronted with the assumed targets. Findings: In international freight transport to/from Poland, i.e., transportation of both imported and exported cargoes, an increase in the significance of road transport is noticeable. It is possible to discern periods when the share of road transport dropped (imports in 2005-2010 and exports in 2010-2015), nevertheless, despite measures taken at the national and supranational level, a desired modal shift from road transport to rail transport or inland shipping or short sea shipping was not achieved. It can also be noticed that rail transport was more often used in imports than in exports. Practical Implications: The obtained findings, which specified the degree of implementation of the modal shift concept on the example of Poland, may be an indication for the entities that set priorities in economic policies regarding the level of effectiveness of measures included in the prepared documents/programs. Originality/Value: The literature still lacks comprehensive research studies that verify the implementation of the modal shift concept at the level of individual countries. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of implemented strategies and programs in the example of Poland. Moreover, it proposes changes to be considered by decision-makers who shape the goals and tools of economic policies and differences regarding management decisions.

Small container terminals in the Baltic Sea region: an overview and multi-criteria analysis of competitiveness

ABSTRACT The article describes 30 small container terminals in the Baltic Sea Region and examines their competitive advantages. Terminals whose annual maximum throughput capacity does not exceed 150,000 TEU were specified to this end. Then, the PROMETHEE II ranking was performed using seven criteria: the length of the quay (C1), the number of RTG (C2) and STS (C3) cranes, the number of shortsea shipping connections (C4), the maximum depth at the quay (C5), the distance from motorways, expressways/national roads (C6) and from the national railway station (C7). Thus, container nodes with strategic advantages for the analyzed market sector were determined.

Numerical Modeling of Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gases Emissions in Intermodal Transport Chains

This paper discusses the most attractive emission compliance options (emission abatement technologies and cleaner fuels) in intermodal transport chains that include short sea shipping. Most studies on emissions-based transport chain comparisons have estimated high levels of nitrogen and sulfur oxide emissions in maritime transportation, decreasing its competitiveness. However, the consequences of regulatory and technological developments and the integration of maritime transport in intermodal transport chains have not yet been considered in detail. In order to address this research gap, a numerical model for computing emissions from different transport modes in an intermodal transport network, under the effect of these developments, is presented that is based on bottom–up emission factors that depend on the fuel type, engine type, and operational profile of each vehicle. Different emissions scenarios are chosen for specific unimodal and intermodal routes (short sea shipping-based) between Portugal and northwestern Europe. Conclusions are drawn on estimated values of air pollutant emissions and greenhouse emissions, in CO2-eq per unit of cargo, in each scenario. These results allow the identification of the most environmentally friendly transport chains, thus supporting the development of adequate transport policies.

Techno-economic assessment of alternative marine fuels for inland shipping in Croatia

Emissions reduction targets are pushing the shipping industry towards cleaner and more energy-efficient solutions. One option proposed is to replace conventional marine fuels with cleaner fuels. This is particularly important for vessels engaged in short-sea shipping and inland waterway transportation because their exhaust gases more negatively affect the local population than long-distance ships do. Hence the aim of this study is to undertake a technical, environmental and economic analysis of alternative fuels to reduce the environmental footprint and lifetime costs of inland waterway transportation. The analysis will focus on Croatia whose existing outdated inland waterway fleet needs to meet the goals of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia. In the study, a life-cycle analysis and life-cycle cost assessment of different alternative fuels will be performed taking into account the operating profiles and technical characteristics of vessels working in Croatia. The potential effects of a carbon tax are also examined in a case study considering carbon emissions reduction targets in Croatia by 2030. The electrification of ships is highlighted as the most environmentally friendly option for each considered ship, reaching a carbon emission reduction of up to 51%, while the most cost-effective option varies for each ship.

Market structure of short sea shipping in northeast Asia

Purpose Short-sea shipping (SSS) plays an important role in regional transportation networks by supporting regional trade and improving inter-modality. In particular, countries in north-east Asia, such as China, South Korea and Japan have been served well by local SSS services. While SSS markets in Northeast Asia (NEA) have been developed by bilateral routes with sub-markets, the market structure of each sub-markets varies depending on concentration and competition levels as well as government intervention. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the market structure of SSS markets in the Northeast Asia. Design/methodology/approach Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) and concentration ratio are adopted to measure the market concentration from 2013 to 2017 for SSS markets in NEA. Additionally, the balance between supply and demand is investigated by measuring the capacity utilisation factor (CUF) based on slot capacity. Findings The market structure in the NEA SSS markets is influenced by firms’ behaviour under different levels of governmental intervention. Shipping firms in a market with more governmental intervention in market entry tend to focus on balancing supply and demand rather than increasing market share, whereas firms in a market with less intervention (and more competition) tend to increase their market share by pursuing efficient capacity management. Research limitations/implications The period of data set is limited to 2013–2017. Furthermore, prices or revenue for specific routes are not available. Originality/value This paper sheds light on the market structure and behaviour of players in SSS market. In addition, the work has value to measure capacity utilisation based on slot capacity.

A Ship Routing System Applied to the Statistical Analysis of the Western Mediterranean Wave Trends

The Western Mediterranean basin is a busy route by Short Sea Shipping with an important route between Barcelona (Spain) and Genoa (Italy), where climatic patterns show similarities but vary during the year. One essential topic for Short Sea Shipping competitiveness is the time because distances use to be covered in approximately 24–30 h. To optimize the transit time, meteorological variables must be kept in mind. In this contribution, we compare data collected by buoys and data simulated using the SIMROUTE (ship weather routing software), to draw a map of wave tendencies during the year. The resulting map of the investigation shows the wave height in percent. The results can be used to optimize the existing routes between Barcelona and Genoa improving his competitiveness and safety.

Simulation modelling of chief officers’ working hours on short sea shipping

ABSTRACT Short sea shipping poses significant problems for many seafarers, particularly for officers employed in oil tankers as chief officers. This study examines chief officers’ working conditions on short sea shipping. In this study, Simio simulation software was utilised to evaluate the working hours of chief officers. The results demonstrate that the rest periods of the chief officers have been less compromised as the navigation period increases in oil tankers operated on short sea shipping. To comply with the relevant regulations, a navigation period of 24–28 h is the minimum condition for an oil tanker to have a chief officer; however, an additional officer may be required for shorter voyages. The findings of the research provide some recommendations to maritime authorities to achieve safe short sea shipping.

A data fusion approach to predict shipping efficiency for bulk carriers

Maritime waterways are critical transportation systems that connect economies and manufacturing centers. Growing demand for freight movement, along with industry commitment to minimize its environmental impact, has increased emphasis on port and vessel efficiency. Yet, few objective performance measures exist to inform decision making for system improvements. There is an existing gap in quantifiable and objective metrics for maritime transport systems which motivated this work to investigate waterway performance efficiencies through big data analytics. Availability of big data affords practitioners and researchers the opportunity to develop new performance-based metrics to improve maritime logistics. This study focused on short sea shipping logistics of iron ore in the Great Lakes and makes three fundamental contributions. Principally, we propose a maritime transport efficiency (MTE) metric attained through fusion of data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and navigation lock data that integrates travel time and vessel payload. We present a linear model to predict vessel capacity based on water surface elevation which will enable practitioners to better adapt to seasonal changes and dredging needs specific to the Great Lakes. Additionally, we present travel time statistics for bulk carriers on the waterway observed through historical AIS data which extends the body of knowledge from earlier works and establishes a reference for system performance. Techniques presented here are effective in capturing travel time statistics in a non-linear interconnected system. This data-driven approach offers new insights for logistics planning and optimization with direct applications to short sea shipping and inland waterways systems. These insights to port and fleet performance allow for querying and simulation of cost impact from investment strategies aimed to improve efficiency or maximize value for operational expenses.

Specific environmental charges to boost Cold Ironing use in the European Short Sea Shipping

Through Directive 2014/94/EU, European Union (EU) has required European ports to provide facilities to enable Cold Ironing (CI) use by 2025. This new reality advances a stricter normative in terms of port emissions. This paper introduces a calculation method to estimate a specific environmental charge in ports to incentivize CI use in Short Sea Shipping. The impact of this charge on the economic performance of the vessel’s operators is assessed through Internal Rate of Return of the CI retrofitting investment in vessels. The calculation method assumes a pollutant differentiation system by considering kinds of vessel, technical features, port localization and hinterlands populations. Results show that, only when the generation of on-shore electricity is dominated by sustainable sources, the environmental charge is effective to stimulate the CI retrofitting of vessels in adverse scenarios. Sensitivity analyses determine that low gross tonnages’ vessels with longer berthing times take greater advantage from CI use.