Ports in a Storm: Port-City Environmental Challenges and Solutions

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This study conducted on Port-city environmental challenges and solutions. Authors have done a great job in this study but I noticed several issues, which should be corrected in revised version.

- Research objective should be clearly stated in introduction section. It will help authors to understand the objective of this study.

- Introduction section should also contain some examples of port-city environmental challenges in different regions.

- Literature review needs to be strengthened. Currently, this section is weak. Also, authors should include the relevant factors in literature review sections such as Circular Economy Practices, Green/sustainable practices, technological innovation. Following are the articles for citations:

https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2022.2140306

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136609

https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504221145648

- Methodology section is well explained. 

- Conclusions section needs to be improved. Further, I suggest authors to enhance theoretical contribution and practical implications.

Author Response

Dear reviewer 1. 

Thank you very much for your time and effort in helping to improve this paper. I have done my best to address all of your comments to the best of my ability.

I have outlined the changes in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

I’ve read your manuscript with great interest. Indeed, it provides the notable insight into the global-scale problem. I appreciate that you consider various forms of pollution, including light, noise, and visual pollution. The study itself is extensive, and the interpretations are meaningful. The writing and the structure are appropriate. The amount of the cited literature is more or less enough. Generally, I find your manuscript very suitable to the journal, although some additions and clarifications would be reasonable. Please, find my comments below.

1)      Paper type: to me, this is more Review than Article. Please, consider the possible change.

2)      I think either Introduction or Discussion can relate the considered topic to UN Sustainable Development Goals, with citing the related literature.

3)      Materials and Methods: can you provide a sample of the questionnaire? What was its language – only English? How sure you are that your respondents understood your questions correctly and answered sincerely? You have also to provide some essential knowledge about your respondents (in summarized form) – age, gender, work experience, education, etc.

4)      Discussion: you have to note the factors, which would influence on your study. For instance, some forms of pollution are difficult to fix (specific investigations are required), and some respondents may not be aware of them. Judging what is polluted and what is not and to which degree may be too subjective. Much depends on whether the people have the appropriate knowledge, and you have to note that the educational systems in the different countries pay different attention to environmental literacy. As for the light and noise pollution, the latter cannot be judged as something negative in some cultural frameworks.

5)      Discussion: some implications for cruise tourism and other tourist activities (some if not many ports themselves are tourist attractions) can be added. If you agree, please, cite more literature about these aspects.

6)      Conclusions: I recommend to re-organize this section. Please, provide a list of 5-7 principal findings (4-5 from Results and 2-3 from Discussion). Then, specify the limitations of this study. Then, the theoretical and practical importance of this study should be stated. Finally, you have to note the current biases of the knowledge and outline the perspectives for further research.

7)      Can you add photographs illustrating the considered environmental issues? (if you agree, these should be original photographs)

Author Response

Dear reviewer 2

Thank you very much for your helpful comments and your time taken to review the manuscript.

I have tried my best to address all of your comments whilst also considering the comments of the other review. 

Please find attached a document outlining my changes.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf