A Global Analysis of Emissions, Decarbonization, and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation—A Systematic Literature Review
Pranesh Ganesan
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article is scientifically interesting for the reader. Unfortunately, the authors did not avoid errors in the article. I detected 42% of plagiarism in the article. Please reduce the textual overlaps found in the manuscript. I believe that the article after correction of errors is suitable for publication in Sustainability.
Minor editing of English language required.
Author Response
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below.
Comment 1: The article is scientifically interesting for the reader. Unfortunately, the authors did not avoid errors in the article. I detected 42% of plagiarism in the article. Please reduce the textual overlaps found in the manuscript. I believe that the article after correction of errors is suitable for publication in Sustainability.
Response 1: The paper has been updated since its first submission and a new revised version can be seen attached. Looking forward to your comments.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Journal: Sustainability
Comments on the manuscript entitled “Title: Emissions, Decarbonization and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation – A Systematic Literature Review: A worldwide analysis”
The article is not suitable for publication in its present form. It needs a major revision. Below are my comments:
Some specific comments:
1. Abstract: It is suggested to add some background with a few objectives and possible applications of this study and highlight the novelty of this work. The abstract only contains some parameters without any process conditions or key values from results, which is insufficient to delineate the whole pictures of the contribution and possible application of this study.
2. Revise keywords add more specific and novel keywords with broader meanings (5-7 words).
3. Add some references in the Introduction section to strengthen the literature review related to GHG emissions.
· Yaqoob, H.; Teoh, Y.H.; Sher, F.; Jamil, M.A.; Murtaza, D.; Qubeissi, M. Al; Hassan, M.U.I.; Mujtaba, M.A. Current Status and Potential of Tire Pyrolysis Oil Production as an Alternative Fuel in Developing Countries. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3214.
· Murugesan, A.; Umarani, C.; Subramanian, R.; Nedunchezhian, N. Bio-diesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engines—A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2009, 13, 653–662.
· A. Ayanoglu, R. Yumrutas¸ , Production of gasoline and diesel like fuels from
waste tire oil by using catalytic pyrolysis, Energy 103 (2016) 456e468,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.02.155.
· K. Thangavelu S, M. Arthanarisamy, Experimental investigation on engine
performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a DI CI engine
using tyre pyrolysis oil and diesel blends doped with nanoparticles, Environ.
Prog. Sustain. Energy 39 (2020) 1e7,https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13321
· Yaqoob H, Teoh YH, Jamil MA, Gulzar M. Potential of tire pyrolysis oil as an alternate fuel for diesel engines: A review. Journal of the Energy Institute 2021;96:1–17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2021.03.002.
4. The introduction is lacks sufficient background information, which is unable to give the reader detailed background knowledge and possible wide application of this study. Research gaps should be highlighted more clearly and future applications of this study should be added.
5. In Table 1. Include the studies of recent years.
6. Illustrate the Figures of the Methodology adopted by the authors.
7. Illustrate more Figures in the manuscript to attract the reader.
8. Divide the headings 3.2 into further subheadings that relate to the different alternative fuels.
9. Extend Table 2. To include more studies.
10. Concise the conclusion, it’s too long.
A better way to write the conclusion of any study:
It should contain the followings:
• Suitability of the applied method
• Key values from results
• Major findings and contribution
• Possible future work
• As well as limitations of the study if there is any
• Possible future work.
11. Between the lack of methodology and limited novelty, the authors have significant work to do to bring this paper up to a publishable standard.
1. There are some grammatical issues, particularly in the introduction and results & discussion section.
Author Response
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below.
Comment 1: Abstract: It is suggested to add some background with a few objectives and possible applications of this study and highlight the novelty of this work. The abstract only contains some parameters without any process conditions or key values from results, which is insufficient to delineate the whole pictures of the contribution and possible application of this study.
Response 1: The abstract has been updated according to your comments. Please see the revised paper.
Comment 2: Revise keywords add more specific and novel keywords with broader meanings (5-7 words).
Response 2: The keywords which have been used in the study are the following inland navigation; emissions; alternative fuel sources; alternative power sources; LNG; batteries; hydrogen. We believe that they represent the focus of this study and combine the results as well.
Comment 3:
Add some references in the Introduction section to strengthen the literature review related to GHG emissions.
- Yaqoob, H.; Teoh, Y.H.; Sher, F.; Jamil, M.A.; Murtaza, D.; Qubeissi, M. Al; Hassan, M.U.I.; Mujtaba, M.A. Current Status and Potential of Tire Pyrolysis Oil Production as an Alternative Fuel in Developing Countries. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3214.
- Murugesan, A.; Umarani, C.; Subramanian, R.; Nedunchezhian, N. Bio-diesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engines—A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2009, 13, 653–662.
- A. Ayanoglu, R. Yumrutas¸ , Production of gasoline and diesel like fuels from
waste tire oil by using catalytic pyrolysis, Energy 103 (2016) 456e468,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.02.155.
- K. Thangavelu S, M. Arthanarisamy, Experimental investigation on engine
performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a DI CI engine
using tyre pyrolysis oil and diesel blends doped with nanoparticles, Environ.
Prog. Sustain. Energy 39 (2020) 1e7,https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13321
- Yaqoob H, Teoh YH, Jamil MA, Gulzar M. Potential of tire pyrolysis oil as an alternate fuel for diesel engines: A review. Journal of the Energy Institute 2021;96:1–17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2021.03.002.
Response 3: It's worth noting that our research aims to provide targeted insights for the specialized sector of inland navigation, and thus, while these references are indeed valid, we must exercise caution to avoid broadening the scope of our study. Our primary objective remains the exploration of sustainable and alternative solutions tailored specifically to the distinct requirements of inland vessels. The following has been added in the introduction of the paper.
"This article focuses on alternative fuel sources and alternative power sources exclusively for inland vessels, a niche sector within the broader field of transportation by addressing the specific needs and challenges faced. While there is an abundance of research worldwide on renewable energy sources and alternative fuels for internal combustion and diesel engines, it is crucial to underscore that this paper's scope is deliberately limited to the unique context of inland navigation thus necessitating a more tailored approach."
Comment 4: The introduction is lacks sufficient background information, which is unable to give the reader detailed background knowledge and possible wide application of this study. Research gaps should be highlighted more clearly and future applications of this study should be added.
Response 4: The introduction covers the issue of decarbonization in a full extent from a generic global matter to inland navigation with an aim to answer the research question "What is the most promising alternative fuel or alternative power source for inland vessels?". The introduction builds up the scope of the paper by referring to global policies and guidelines, switching to transportation in general and more particular to ocean going vessels and as result identifies the lack of research and applications into inland navigation. Additionally, especially for the inland navigation sector, it highlights the urgence of the study. However, the contribution of this research has been further highlighted into the introduction and the conclusion as well, to further help the reader.
Comment 5: In Table 1. Include the studies of recent years.
Response 5: Although the initial systematic literature review was carried out between September 2022 to October 2022, we have extended our analysis till September 2023 and 9 additional studies have been now included in the paper.
Comment 6: Illustrate the Figures of the Methodology adopted by the authors.
Response 6: With respect to illustrating the figures of methodology, we would like to point that this is a literature review. As a result, the process of the methodology is quite straight forward by analyzing the relevant past literature, finding trends, identifying the gaps and present the results. We haven't used any mathematical functions or models, so illustrating that particular process my not be of added value.
Comment 7: Illustrate more Figures in the manuscript to attract the reader.
Response 7: Two histograms have been added in the materials & methods and results sections which show the number of studies throughout the years by each year and the studies linked to countries/ regions respectively and a pie chart in the discussion section which depicts the split of the most promising fuels for inland navigation based on the research which has been carried out so far in the sector.
Comment 8: Divide the headings 3.2 into further subheadings that relate to the different alternative fuels.
Response 8: The way this subsector is presented is by showing the relevant studies in chronological order by their publication. Table 2 presents all the relevant studies with the respective fuel in which they focus. The aim of the paper is to identify the most promising fuel or power source for inland navigation vessels. We do not go in a comparison of the technical characteristics of fuels and the analysis is based on previous research that has been carried out, thus having subheadings that relate to different alternative fuels may not be of added value.
Comment 9: Extend Table 2. To include more studies.
Response 9: Although the initial systematic literature review was carried out between September 2022 to October 2022, we have extended our analysis till September 2023 and 9 additional studies have been now included in the paper.
Comment 10:
Concise the conclusion, it’s too long.
A better way to write the conclusion of any study:
It should contain the followings:
- Suitability of the applied method
- Key values from results
- Major findings and contribution
- Possible future work
- As well as limitations of the study if there is any
- Possible future work.
Response 10: We believe that all these points are covered in the conclusion. It may be long but is covers extensively all the points raised by the reviewer.
Comment 11: Between the lack of methodology and limited novelty, the authors have significant work to do to bring this paper up to a publishable standard.
Response 11: The paper has been updated since its first submission and a new revised version can be seen attached. Looking forward to your comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments to Authors for for Manuscript ID sustainability-2502693
Title: ”Emissions, Decarbonization and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation – A systematic Literature Review: A worldwide analysis”
Overview and general recommendation for authors:
The genesis of this paper is the issue of decarbonization.
The research paper investigates the issue of emissions from inland navigation, recognizing the environmental impact of traditional fuel sources like diesel used in inland vessels.
It adopts a systematic literature review approach, taking under consideration a wide range of scientific papers from various regions around the world such as Egypt, China, Netherlands, Croatia, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia.
All these regions have important inland waterways. The research question aims to identify the most promising alternative fuel or power source for these vessels.
The research paper, after conducting a thorough analysis, presents the options which are considered more sustainable and environmentally friendly, as they will potentially reduce emissions significantly and contribute to a cleaner and greener inland navigation industry.
The title and abstract are appropriate for the content of the text.
The authors appropriately cite past literature (a number of 37 references sources) with similar findings to theirs.
The manuscript is clear, relevant for the field and presented in a very well-structured manner. The cited references current are mostly within the last 8 years.
The majority of studies which have been analyzed and presented in this literature review are coming from other parts of the world and especially in China where it seems that the government along with the researchers have been putting a lot of effort in utilizing the inland corridors and switching to alternative power sources for inland vessels and their propulsion systems.
The number of papers regarding emissions, decarbonization and alternative fuel and power sources for the in land navigation market is limited compared to similar researches for other modes of transport and ocean going vessels. This generates the opportunity for researchers to fill in the gaps that are available for further study and to push the entire inland waterway network, such as authorities, entities and companies to switch to "greener" solutions.
The manuscript is scientifically sound and it is obvious that LNG is still a fuel which is the most preferable one for inland navigation and short sea shipping but especially in the inland corridors it lacks of infrastructure.
The literature review showed that the majority of the research topics were focusing on LNG as the most suitable solution a few years ago but they switched to greener fuels and batteries in the last two years.
The conclusions are consistent with the evidence and arguments presented.
My best Regards,
The Reviewer
Author Response
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript and for the feedback provided. Please note that, the paper has been updated since its first submission. The new additions include:
- An updated abstract
- Additions in the introduction
- 3 graphs have been added
- Extension of the literature review to September 2023, thus 9 additional studies have been added
- Additions in the conclusion
The revised version can be seen attached. Looking forward to your comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
1.The abstract section should be improved by adding specific results coming from your researches.
2.The references should be rewritten according to the Journal Guidelines. However, the introduction needs to be revised. The authors should be careful with the information which stated in the article.
3.Authors prepared a section for objective. However, I have no idea why is it dedicated for other content? Please focus on your objectives and move the others to the above sections.
4.However, I can not found the new contribution to the current knowledge. What’s the new finding of this paper?
5.Certain conclusions are strange and do not correspond to the presented results.
English proof reading is required to remove grammatical errors.
Author Response
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below.
Comment 1: The abstract section should be improved by adding specific results coming from your researches.
Response 1: The abstract has been updated according to your comments. Please see the revised paper.
Comment 2: The references should be rewritten according to the Journal Guidelines. However, the introduction needs to be revised. The authors should be careful with the information which stated in the article.
Response 2:
The references used in this article are according to the journal's guidelines which states that "MDPI’s style for citations and references lists are widely based on the style used by the American Chemical Society". Please see below the examples from the journal and the article respectively.
Journal Examples -> Díaz et al. [10] & 10. Díaz, D.D.; Converso, A.; Sharpless, K.B.; Finn, M.G. 2,6-Dichloro-9-thiabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane: Multigram Display of Azide and Cyanide Components on a Versatile Scaffold. Molecules 2006, 11, 212–218, doi:10.3390/11040212.
Paper Example -> 1. Fan et al. [7] & Fan, A.; Wang, J.-T.; He, Y.; Perčić, M.; Vladimir, N.; Yang, L. Decarbonizing Inland Ship Power System: Alternative Solution and Assessment Method. Energy 2021, 226, 120266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.120266.
The reference list though has been updated according to the guidelines. The name of the journal and the issue should had been in italics and the year of publication in bold. If by any means we missed your point in any way, please share with us some particular examples to look into them. However, if the paper gets published it will go through the phase of proof reading and any errors of this kind will be fixed.
The introduction now highlights further the contribution of this research.
Additionally, with respect to the information which we should be careful about, we cannot identify them so if you could please share an example.
Comment 3: Authors prepared a section for objective. However, I have no idea why is it dedicated for other content? Please focus on your objectives and move the others to the above sections.
Response 3: Please note that we do not have a section called objective, thus unfortunately we do not understand this point. Please provide an example.
Comment 4: However, I can not found the new contribution to the current knowledge. What’s the new finding of this paper?
Response 4: The contribution of this research has been further highlighted into the introduction and the conclusion as well, to further help the reader. In the introduction the following has been added: "Inland waterway transport, offers a unique opportunity for sustainable, high-volume transportation with minimal environmental impact. However, its heavy reliance on diesel engines and the associated emissions underline the urgent need for greener solutions. This research provides valuable insights into the current state of technology adoption in several countries around the world but also identifies critical research gaps. It provides a comprehensive view of the evolving alternatives within the inland waterway transportation sector worldwide, offering policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders the necessary guidance to navigate the complex terrain of sustainable transport solutions. The urgency of this paper lies in addressing the critical gap between the current reliance on diesel engines in inland vessels and the pressing need for cleaner alternatives, by answering the following question: What is the most promising alternative fuel or alternative power source for inland vessels?"
Comment 5: Certain conclusions are strange and do not correspond to the presented results.
Response 5: Please note that also this point is not clear so if by any means we missed it, please share with us some particular examples to look into them. However, we have reformed the closing note of the conclusion which refers to the time lag between technology developments and the publication of research findings. We have highlighted that although it is not coming straight from the analysis made, is important to emphasize it.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 5 Report
Manuscript ID: sustainability-2502693 entitled "Emissions, Decarbonization and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation – A systematic Literature Review: A worldwide analysis" for Journal of “Sustainability” has been reviewed.
The manuscript (review) was interesting and well-motivated. However, there are few things need to be corrected and included in the manuscript for better understanding of carried research work to the readers.
+1- The abstract section is too short. (Highlights should be specified.)
+2- The importance of the study should be further explained. (in introduction…)
+3- More references should be added to the introduction section. (especially about different studies)
+4- At least 3 - 4 graphs must be added to the first section of the results. (For example, country-based comparison.)
+5- The sections given below should be checked step by step. (There are shortcomings and mistakes.)
“Sun et al. [12] looked at the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of inland river shipping, and compared them with the performance of seagoing ships. Their analysis was based on a case study of container shipping on the Yangtze River, China. The Yangtze River, often called the ‘‘Golden Waterway’’, is of especially significance in this system. Sun et al. [12] conclude that the inland navigation systems are responsible for 134 considerable air pollution and there are more and more pressures to develop ‘‘low carbon shipping’’ policies. van Lier & Macharis [13] performed a life-cycle assessment (LCA) based framework in order to assess the full environmental impact of inland waterway transport services. The authors studied and analyzed both air polluting and greenhouse gas emissions for barge transport are analyzed for the Flanders geographical region in Belgium. According to their analysis, the larger the barge type considered, the larger the relative share of emission related to vehicle fleet and waterway infrastructure becomes, and the lower the relative share of emissions related to vehicle operation. Their analysis for the environmental emissions was based on three different categories: barge travel, barge manufacturing and barge maintenance. According to their results, barge travel remains by far the most important category for air pollutants and greenhouse emissions while for barge manufacturing and maintenance, the emissions are generally relatively small. Keuken et al. [14] conducted a study that aimed to analyze the influence of inland shipping on air quality along inland waterways in The Netherlands. They utilized emission factors specific to inland ships as input for their model, which were obtained through measurements using test banks of ship engines. The study focused on the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and the Waal in The Netherlands. The researchers concluded that the emission standards for shipping are not as stringent as those for road transport. Keuken et al. [14] recommended various measures to reduce emissions, including the implementation of LNG and fuels with lower sulfur content. Sihn et al. [15] refer to many examples from around the world considering the transportation greenhouse emissions and the ways the states are aiming to reduce them and further take advantage of inland waterways. In the European region, a project called “Pollutant emissions of IWT ships on the Danube Corridor” took place in 2016 and it was aiming for collection and analyses of the effect of pollutant emissions along the Danube corridor and suggestions like an eco-friendly ship and “greener” ports as countermeas ures [15]. According to their research, the World Bank launched a working paper for the “Development of a more energy efficient inland waterway transport in Bangladesh” in 2011 with a goal to reduce the modal share of road transport and switching to inland waterways. Another example of committing to the improvement and development of inland waterways is India, with the Inland Waterway Authority of India (IWAI). The IWAI developed and formulated a policy with a view to accelerate inland waterways development and encourage the private sector to participate with an ultimate goal to reduce greenhouse emissions [15]. “
+6- The resolution of all Figures should be increased. (and magnify)
+7- More literature studies should be added to the introduction and other sections (for example, DOIs given). https://doi.org/10.1177/09544089231160472 ; https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2021.1977387
--------------------------------------------------------
***After revision, I would like to review the article again.
Author Response
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript. Please find the detailed responses below.
Comment 1: The abstract section is too short. (Highlights should be specified.)
Response 1: The abstract has been updated according to your comments. Please see the revised paper. Additionally, please note that there is a limitation in words (200 words maximum) by the journal guidelines.
Comment 2: The importance of the study should be further explained. (in introduction…)
Response 2: The contribution of this research has been further highlighted into the introduction and the conclusion as well, to further help the reader. In the introduction the following has been added: "Inland waterway transport, offers a unique opportunity for sustainable, high-volume transportation with minimal environmental impact. However, its heavy reliance on diesel engines and the associated emissions underline the urgent need for greener solutions. This research provides valuable insights into the current state of technology adoption in several countries around the world but also identifies critical research gaps. It provides a comprehensive view of the evolving alternatives within the inland waterway transportation sector worldwide, offering policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders the necessary guidance to navigate the complex terrain of sustainable transport solutions. The urgency of this paper lies in addressing the critical gap between the current reliance on diesel engines in inland vessels and the pressing need for cleaner alternatives, by answering the following question: What is the most promising alternative fuel or alternative power source for inland vessels?"
Comment 3: More references should be added to the introduction section. (especially about different studies).
Response 3: Giving the nature of the study which is a literature review, we have added all the relevant references into the literature section and the reference list of the paper. Adding more references may not add any additional value.
Comment 4: At least 3 - 4 graphs must be added to the first section of the results. (For example, country-based comparison.)
Response 4: Two histograms have been added in the materials & methods and results sections which show the number of studies throughout the years by each year and the studies linked to countries/ regions respectively and a pie chart in the discussion section which depicts the split of the most promising fuels for inland navigation based on the research which has been carried out so far in the sector.
Comment 5: The sections given below should be checked step by step. (There are shortcomings and mistakes.)
Response 5: The whole paper has been updated since its first submission and a new revised version can be seen attached.
Comment 6: The resolution of all Figures should be increased. (and magnify).
Response 6: The resolution of figures is the highest it can get as they were shared by CCNR. They may lose their quality due to conversion from a word document to a pdf.
Comment 7: More literature studies should be added to the introduction and other sections (for example, DOIs given). https://doi.org/10.1177/09544089231160472 ; https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2021.1977387
Response 7: It's worth noting that our research aims to provide targeted insights for the specialized sector of inland navigation, and thus, while these references are indeed valid, we must exercise caution to avoid broadening the scope of our study. Our primary objective remains the exploration of sustainable and alternative solutions tailored specifically to the distinct requirements of inland vessels. The following has been added in the introduction of the paper.
"This article focuses on alternative fuel sources and alternative power sources exclusively for inland vessels, a niche sector within the broader field of transportation by addressing the specific needs and challenges faced. While there is an abundance of research worldwide on renewable energy sources and alternative fuels for internal combustion and diesel engines, it is crucial to underscore that this paper's scope is deliberately limited to the unique context of inland navigation thus necessitating a more tailored approach."
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 4 Report
No
No
Reviewer 5 Report
Manuscript ID: sustainability-2502693 entitled "Emissions, Decarbonization and Alternative Fuels in Inland Navigation – A systematic Literature Review: A worldwide analysis" for Journal of “Sustainability” has been reviewed.
The authors have revised the manuscript carefully and the revised version could be published in the journal.
