Next Article in Journal
Research on the Optimisation of Dual-Heat-Source Heating Systems in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings
Next Article in Special Issue
Preface to This Special Issue: The Sustainable Maritime Supply Chain
Previous Article in Journal
Deep Learning-Based Truthful and Deceptive Hotel Reviews
Previous Article in Special Issue
Port Access Fluidity Management during a Major Extension Project: A Simulation-Based Case Study
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Short Sea Shipping as a Sustainable Modal Alternative: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives

by
Michael J. Izdebski
1,
Lokesh Kumar Kalahasthi
2,*,
Andrés Regal-Ludowieg
3 and
José Holguín-Veras
3
1
School of Business and Hospitality, State University of New York at Delhi, Delhi, NY 13753, USA
2
TRIP Centre—Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
3
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4515; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114515
Submission received: 19 March 2024 / Revised: 22 May 2024 / Accepted: 23 May 2024 / Published: 26 May 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Supply Chain)

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of using short sea shipping (SSS) as a sustainable freight modal alternative by analyzing data collected from shippers in the New York State Capital Region. To this end, qualitative and quantitative approaches were jointly used. The qualitative analysis focused on exploring in-depth interviews with the decision makers regarding the drivers and the barriers to firms shifting to SSS. The quantitative efforts included estimating discrete choice (ordinal logit) models to assess the influence of four key governing aspects (leadership buy-in, emergency logistics, public policy, and sustainability) on the probabilities of shifting to SSS supported by the findings from the qualitative part. This paper also includes a comprehensive description of various variables, factors influencing the current mode choice, shippers’ perceptions, and willingness to use SSS. The results showed that firms with higher truck shares had fewer chances to switch to SSS unless in emergencies. Unfortunately, sustainability was the least valued by most of the participants in choosing SSS. Hence, lower costs and better service were essential. The ordinal logit models provide a potential tool for policymakers and freight planners to estimate the probability of firms choosing SSS over the current mode.
Keywords: short sea shipping; sustainable freight modal alternatives; in-depth interviews; discrete choice modeling; freight planning and policy short sea shipping; sustainable freight modal alternatives; in-depth interviews; discrete choice modeling; freight planning and policy

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Izdebski, M.J.; Kalahasthi, L.K.; Regal-Ludowieg, A.; Holguín-Veras, J. Short Sea Shipping as a Sustainable Modal Alternative: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives. Sustainability 2024, 16, 4515. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114515

AMA Style

Izdebski MJ, Kalahasthi LK, Regal-Ludowieg A, Holguín-Veras J. Short Sea Shipping as a Sustainable Modal Alternative: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives. Sustainability. 2024; 16(11):4515. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114515

Chicago/Turabian Style

Izdebski, Michael J., Lokesh Kumar Kalahasthi, Andrés Regal-Ludowieg, and José Holguín-Veras. 2024. "Short Sea Shipping as a Sustainable Modal Alternative: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives" Sustainability 16, no. 11: 4515. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114515

APA Style

Izdebski, M. J., Kalahasthi, L. K., Regal-Ludowieg, A., & Holguín-Veras, J. (2024). Short Sea Shipping as a Sustainable Modal Alternative: Qualitative and Quantitative Perspectives. Sustainability, 16(11), 4515. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114515

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop