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Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 35409

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yuiyip Lau

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Guest Editor

Division of Business and Hospitality Management, College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: cruise; ferry; maritime transport; air transport; impacts of climate change; maritime education and training; transport history; sustainability issues; supply chain management; health logistics; regional development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Tomoya Kawasaki

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Guest Editor

Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Interests: supply chain management (SCM); value chain management (VCM); logistics systems optimization; graph analysis; big data analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Maxim A. Dulebenets

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Guest Editor

College of Engineering, Florida A&M University-Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046, USA
Interests: operations research; simulation modeling; optimization; NP-hard problems; liner shipping scheduling; evolutionary computation; mathematical programming; hybrid algorithms; metaheuristics; transportation engineering; GPS data processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Maneerat Kanrak

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Khon Kaen University, Nong Khai 43000, Thailand
Interests: network analysis; maritime logistics; transport routing; operational research; cruise shipping

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic severely affected the shipping industry. This resulted in many shipping companies locking down their operations. The situation has recently improved as some companies have started their shipping services again. However, revitalization of the industry remains challenging.

Maritime transport contributes more than 80% of global trading volumes. Maritime logistics and port management are the mechanisms that boost the economy, which are receiving increasing attention from many sectors. The pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge to maritime logistics and port management worldwide. This has led to an increase in the significance of research on maritime logistics and port management post pandemic. Research has explored the operation of maritime logistics and port management post pandemic. This Special Issue in Sustainability aims to publish state-of-the-art research on maritime logistics and port management in the post-pandemic era.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

Port management;
Port governance;
The resilience of maritime logistics and ports post pandemic;
Maritime and port sustainability;
Dynamics of port production and operation;
Maritime logistics risk management;
Port economics;
Container positioning in liner shipping;
Optimization for maritime logistics and port management;
Maritime network analysis;
Dynamics of maritime shipping network.

Dr. Yuiyip Lau
Dr. Tomoya Kawasaki
Dr. Maxim A. Dulebenets
Dr. Maneerat Kanrak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

maritime logistics
port management
maritime education
COVID-19 pandemic
resilience
sustainability

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Roles of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Capability and Flexibility

by Tejas Potnis, Yui-yip Lau and Tsz Leung Yip

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097460 - 1 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4065

Abstract

Blockchain technology is a major innovation that has swept through global supply chains recently. Blockchain technology has received immense attention in the supply chain industry due to its promising capabilities. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential capabilities of blockchain technology, which are highly relevant to the supply chain industry. To improve the understanding of the effect of blockchain on the supply chain, this research focuses on two crucial aspects of supply chain management, namely, supply chain capabilities and flexibility. The research procures measuring items for blockchain characteristics, supply chain capabilities, and flexibility through a questionnaire, the previous literature, and interviews conducted with industry experts. Through the use of statistical analysis, this study identifies the relationship between the above variables. The effect of blockchain on each variable is examined using a simple linear regression model. The findings disclose that blockchain technology has generated a notable impact on the supply chain capabilities and supply chain flexibility of firms. This makes blockchain technology highly essential for firms to generate a competitive advantage in the market and develop a new set of capabilities ahead of their competitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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17 pages, 1833 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Case Study of How Maersk Adopts Cloud-Based Blockchain Integrated with Machine Learning for Sustainable Practices

by Simon Wong, John Kun-Woon Yeung, Yui-Yip Lau and Tomoya Kawasaki

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097305 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8442

Abstract

In the last six years, there has been a rise in research interest with regard to the applications of blockchain technology in supply chains and how these applications bring benefits to supply chain management. In a broader sense, an essential research focus that has been discussed in the literature is the way in which this emerging blockchain technology in supply chains brings sustainable benefits to a community. The rationale for incorporating cloud technology into a blockchain and integrating the blockchain with machine learning for supply chain applications is to maintain technical sustainability. While previous studies suggested and reported sustainable practices of applying blockchain technology in supply chains, the means with which these practices are brought about by the cloud-based blockchain integrated with machine learning (CBML) have not been thoroughly explored in the literature. The case study presented in this paper aims to fill this gap by exploring technically, environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable practices through the use cases of CBML for supply chain management by the international leading container shipping company Maersk. The use cases by Maersk presented in published documents were collected from the Internet and then analyzed. This document analysis was performed in two ways. The first way was a technical review of the blockchain technology used by Maersk with a consideration of technical sustainability to ensure scalability and big data analytics. The other way was to analyze the applications of the CBML by Maersk to indicate how environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability can be achieved. On the other hand, this paper also highlights the negative technical, environmental, economic, and social sustainability impacts caused by Maersk and discusses implications for future research directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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21 pages, 1827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience Improvement and Risk Management of Multimodal Transport Logistics in the Post–COVID-19 Era: The Case of TIR-Based Sea–Road Multimodal Transport Logistics

by Riqing Liao, Wei Liu and Yuandao Yuan

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6041; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076041 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4500

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted international economics and trade, including cargo transportation. As a result, enhancing the resilience of transport and logistics in the post–COVID-19 era has become a general trend. Multimodal transport, with its advantages of speed, large volume and multiple modes, has increasingly gained attention from countries worldwide. However, multimodal transport logistics is a complex and systematic process. Its smooth flow depends not only on the transport itself, but also on the efficient supervision of customs and other government departments at ports. This study employs the theory and method of a super-network to establish a model of multimodal transport logistics, which includes TIR-based sea–road multimodal transport and customs supervision relationships. Structural and resilience-related characteristics of the super-network are analyzed, and performance parameters of the super-network are proposed. A simulation analysis is conducted, and based on the results, countermeasures to improve the resilience and promote risk management of multimodal transport logistics in the post–COVID-19 era are suggested. The findings of this study provide an exploration of more effective ways to ensure the smoothness of multimodal transport logistics and improve system resilience. The study concludes with theoretical and managerial implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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18 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Diversification Strategies of Terminal Operators—Evidence from Polish Seaports

by Michał Pluciński, Izabela Kotowska, Marta Mańkowska and Ludmiła Filina-Dawidowicz

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5644; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075644 - 23 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1780

Abstract

In response to changes taking place in the global environment, seaport terminal operators constantly search for lines of development in their operations, choosing i.a. a strategy of diversification or specialisation. So far, the issue of applying a diversification strategy in business models used by operators of multipurpose terminals has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature on the subject. In view of the above, the purpose of this paper is to identify and hierarchize the motivations for diversification and to specify the areas of diversification strategies and corresponding measures taken by operators of multipurpose terminals. The multi-case-study method was applied to conduct the research, along with the research technique of semi-structured in-depth interviews held with representatives of five terminal operators that had been running their business activity in Polish seaports and applying a diversification strategy. As a result of the completed research study, it was possible to specify the motivations for implementing a diversification strategy, and to hierarchize them. The main motives in selecting a diversification strategy as the main business strategy among the interviewed terminal operators were safeguarding against seasonal or sporadic business cycle fluctuations, and changes taking place in maritime trade and transport. Moreover, four areas of diversification strategies pursued by the terminal operators were identified: cargo diversification, contract diversification, services diversification, and cargo flow direction diversification. The diversification measures taken by the terminal operators in the specified areas were analysed in detail. The most important areas of the diversification measures in the studied entities were cargo diversification and services diversification. A heat map was developed to present the dependencies between the motivations for diversification and the areas of diversification strategies implemented by the terminal operators. The identified specific measures taken by the terminal operators as part of the indicated diversification areas included technical and organisational measures. The diversification strategy developed by terminal operators proved to be an effective strategy in coping with the effects of economic slowdown and disruptions ensuing from the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. The results of the considerations may be of interest to seaports, transshipment terminals or other entities interested in implementation of a business activity diversification strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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16 pages, 2375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Analysis of the Cruise Shipping Network in Asia

by Maneerat Kanrak, Yui-yip Lau, Jingen Zhou, Jiawei Ge and Saksuriya Traiyarach

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2010; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032010 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2142

Abstract

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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17 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Customs Supervision Competitiveness Using Principal Component Analysis

by Rong Hu, Yui-Yip Lau and Ruiqian Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031833 - 18 Jan 2023

Viewed by 2342

Abstract

In order to improve the degree of security and facilitation of the business environment; customs administrations are constantly working to strengthen their own institutional innovation and governance in customs control. As such, this paper establishes an evaluation index of international customs supervision competitiveness based on the eight indexes extracted from the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Revised Kyoto Convention and selects 21 representative national customs using the principal component analysis (PCA) method to assess their competitiveness against SPSSAU quantitatively. Based on the data from the World Economic Forum, World Bank, OECD, WCO Annual Report, and Transparency International, the Dutch customs have relatively the best performance in the range of comprehensive competitiveness, and customs authorities in Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, and Singapore also have relatively-best performance under different indexes. Taking China Customs as an example, the gaps between China Customs and the ones with the best performance are also analyzed. In response to the problems identified by the analysis, recommendations are made in the areas of process facilitation, technology application, international cooperation, economic development, taxation management, and capacity building to improve the competitiveness of customs control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

14 pages, 561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fundamental Shifts of Cruise Shipping in the Post-COVID-19 Era

by Yui-yip Lau, Tsz Leung Yip and Maneerat Kanrak

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14990; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214990 - 13 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2891

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously influenced cruise tourism and global businesses, which is a new variant that poses unpredictable issues for the cruise industry. This study investigates fundamental shifts in cruise shipping after the pandemic using the CRUISE PORT framework by conducting 18 semi-structured and in-depth interviews. The results show that port connectivity is the most significant factor in promoting ports as hubs. Regional competitiveness is important to sustain the cruise industry. Some ports face a low utilization rate due to cruise lines changing their itineraries and visiting low-risk ports. Cruise ports can rebuild competitiveness by improving their infrastructures. Security became the prime concern, while environmental management is not the main priority and the deciding factor in reviving the industry. A port of call is a significant factor in fostering the industry’s development. The pandemic does not generate any significant issues for cruise lines in terms of ocean conditions. Recreational activities can help cruise lines to attract more passengers, and cruise traffic is a driving force to improve port competitiveness. The findings are drawn implications for the cruise sector, port authorities, and stakeholders to improve their operations and services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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16 pages, 1190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Distribution of Emergency Logistics Centers under the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Case of Yangtze River Delta Area

by Jiawei Ge, Xiang Li, Zhuoling Wu, Yurou Sun and Maneerat Kanrak

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10594; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710594 - 25 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2020

Abstract

The regular lockdown policy adopted in controlling the pandemic of COVID-19 has caused logistic disruptions in some areas that have a great impact on the living standards of residents and the production of enterprises. Given that the construction of emergency logistics centers is an effective solution, this paper takes the Yangtze River Delta Area (YRDA) of China as an example and discusses the site selection and material distribution of the emergency logistics centers in the region via a two-stage model. The first stage is the selection of candidate emergency logistics centers in the YRDA. A comprehensive evaluation index system is built with 4 primary and 15 secondary indexes to evaluate the logistic infrastructure capacity of the 41 cities in the YRDA. Further, through a principal component analysis, 12 cities are selected as candidate construction sites for emergency logistics centers. In the second stage, a biobjective site selection model with uncertain demand is established and calculated via the NSGA-II algorithm. According to the time sensitivity of emergency logistics, six cities are filtered from the optimal solution set, including Hefei, Hangzhou, Xuzhou, Wenzhou, Changzhou, and Shanghai, ensuring that all 41 cities are within their service scope. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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Review

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12 pages, 1734 KiB

Open AccessReview

Climate Change, Carbon Peaks, and Carbon Neutralization: A Bibliometric Study from 2006 to 2023

by Qiong Chen, Hongyu Zhang, Yui-Yip Lau, Tianni Wang, Wen Wang and Guangsheng Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075723 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2260

Abstract

Climate change poses a threat to the survival of the human race. Increased interest in climate change, carbon peaks, and carbon neutralization and rising recognition of the challenges inherent to highlighting this issue provides the opportunity to carry out a bibliometric study to identify what research can generate ideas regarding climate change, carbon peaks, and carbon neutralization. As expected, it may align with the dual goals of the Chinese government agenda in terms of a carbon peak and carbon neutralization in 2030 and 2060, respectively. The recent argument has induced calls for improved transparency and standardization in the approaches adopted to synthesize climate change, carbon peak, and carbon neutralization research. Nevertheless, key questions are still unanswered, namely, what are the key contributions that the research community has produced in relation to climate change, carbon peaks, and carbon neutralization? Have their contributions been inclined toward specific geographical areas, directions, and themes? As such, software tools for bibliometric analysis, VOSviewer, and Python were used to conduct a systematic quantitative analysis of the relevant literature on climate change, carbon peaks, and carbon neutralization. The results show that carbon peaks and carbon neutralization have received wide attention from academic scholars. In the meantime, China faces the unfolding challenges of economic, technological, and political factors that need to be addressed to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutralization. This study provides policy implications for achieving China’s emission reduction targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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15 pages, 1693 KiB

Open AccessReview

A 40-Year Bibliometric Analysis of Maritime English Research: Insights and Implications

by Tianjiao Li, Qiong Chen, Yongtao Xi and Yui-Yip Lau

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4348; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054348 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1969

Abstract

This study aims to obtain a critical review of the characteristics and trends in Maritime English (ME) research over the last four decades. This study contributes to a comprehensive analysis of ME based on Web of Science and Google Scholar databases by VOSviewer software. Bibliometric indicators including trends, authors, scholarly journals, references, and keywords were used in it. Results show that ME education and ME communication are the main themes in the ME research field. The International Maritime English Conference (IMEC), International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA), and maritime journals affiliated with maritime universities published most of the ME research articles. Most of the productive and influential scholars and academic institutions are concentrated in Europe. Quantitative analysis is the main research method in ME. The study promotes a comprehensive understanding of ME research globally and provides valuable insights into its prospects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-COVID-19 Era for Maritime Logistics and Port Management)

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