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Sustainable Transition in Green Maritime Transportation and Port Management

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 October 2023) | Viewed by 9625

Special Issue Editors

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Interests: environmental pollution; ship emission; aerosol
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: emission inventory; environmental remote sensing technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Transportation Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Interests: green shipping; port operations and management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Maritime transportation is the process of managing the movement of goods and people by sea, requiring the coordination of various stakeholders, such as port authorities, shipping companies, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other related parties. Ports provide a safe and secure environment for the transfer of goods and services between ships and land-based locations, equipped with docks, warehouses, and other infrastructure necessary for the efficient transfer of goods. Both of these activities can have a significant impact on the environment. The burning of fossil fuels by ships can lead to air pollution, while the release of oil and other pollutants into the water can cause water contamination. Additionally, the construction of ports and other infrastructure can lead to habitat destruction and the disruption of ecosystems. The noise and vibration from ships and port operations can also have a detrimental effect on marine life and human health. Consequently, a sustainable transition to green maritime transportation and port management is urgently needed.

Sustainable transition in maritime transportation and port management is the process of transitioning from traditional methods of maritime transportation and port management to more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This includes utilizing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power and adopting green technologies, such as electric and hybrid vessels. Furthermore, it necessitates the implementation of sustainable practices, such as waste management, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of maritime transportation and port management while still ensuring the efficient and safe movement of goods and people by sea, thus facilitating the progression of society toward a more sustainable future.

Therefore, we proposed a Special Issue on “Sustainable Transition in Green Maritime Transportation and Port Management” in Sustainability. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. The impacts of maritime transportation and ports on the environment, humans and species, with a focus on the direction of sustainable transition.
  2. Strategies for reducing emissions from maritime ships and port operations.
  3. Green port infrastructures and sustainable logistics in maritime transportation.
  4. Economic and social impacts of green maritime transportation and port management.
  5. The use of alternative marine fuels such as hydrogen and LNG in the shipping industry.
  6. Ship emission detection and maritime pollution monitoring based on drones.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Shuo Ding
Dr. Jian Wu
Dr. Baoli Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 transportation
  • pollutants emission
  • environmental impacts
  • green port infrastructures
  • sustainable logistics
  • renewable energy
  • waste management
  • economic and social impacts

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 8058 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Typhoon-Induced Wind Fields in Ports of the Central and Northern Taiwan Strait
by Qiuhan Lin and Shuo Ding
Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010167 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 851
Abstract
The winds of a typhoon are a significant meteorological hazard with substantial implications for maritime transportation and are of paramount importance. Studying wind field characteristics and establishing effective algorithms for wind correction are of significant practical and societal importance within the realm of [...] Read more.
The winds of a typhoon are a significant meteorological hazard with substantial implications for maritime transportation and are of paramount importance. Studying wind field characteristics and establishing effective algorithms for wind correction are of significant practical and societal importance within the realm of cargo transport operations at ports and terminals, thereby guaranteeing the sustainable development of port shipping. This study investigates the influence of typhoon winds on ports in the central to northern areas of the Taiwan Strait, considering different typhoon paths, by utilizing ground automatic station observations and numerical model forecasts. Furthermore, this research examines deviations in wind field forecasts generated by the ECMWF numerical model and the subsequent correction of surface wind patterns. The results indicate that: (1) maximum wind speeds during typhoons following various paths are most notable in the proximity of coastal islands near Putian, Fujian province, predominantly due to the topographical effects of the strait. (2) Wind speeds at individual stations are contingent on the typhoon’s trajectory, while the pressure difference could serve as a reliable indicator of typhoon intensity and onset timing. (3) Following polynomial fitting correction, the forecast deviations are reduced by 37% for the u component and 40% for the v component. The score for the u component increases notably from 41.60 to 63.17 after correction, representing an improvement of 51.85%, while the v component score rises significantly from 29.33 to 48.89, showing an enhancement of 66.70%. This research has implications for future forecasts of typhoon winds that impact ports in the central and northern sections of the Taiwan Strait, meeting the meteorological service needs of cargo ships entering the port and better serving the sustainable development of the local economy and society. Full article
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40 pages, 6106 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Incentive Contract of Government for Port Enterprises to Reduce Emissions in the Blockchain Era: Considering Carbon Trading Policy
by Zhongmiao Sun, Qi Xu and Jinrong Liu
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12148; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612148 - 8 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
Blockchain technology is very useful. This paper considers the application of blockchain technology to smart contracts, green certification, and market information disclosure, and introduces the carbon trading market price as a parameter to solve the dynamic incentive problem of the government for port [...] Read more.
Blockchain technology is very useful. This paper considers the application of blockchain technology to smart contracts, green certification, and market information disclosure, and introduces the carbon trading market price as a parameter to solve the dynamic incentive problem of the government for port enterprises to reduce emissions under the carbon trading policy. Based on the state change of port carbon emission reduction, this paper uses principal–agent theory to construct the dynamic incentive contract model of government without blockchain, with blockchain, and when carbon trading is considered under blockchain, respectively, and uses the optimal control method to solve and analyze the model. This paper finds that only when the opportunity cost of port enterprises is greater than a certain critical point and the fixed cost of blockchain is less than a certain critical point, the implementation of blockchain will help improve government efficiency. However, only when the critical value of carbon emission reduction of port enterprises and the unit operating cost of blockchain are small, the government should start the carbon trading market under blockchain technology. Through numerical simulation, this paper also finds that it is usually beneficial for the government to regulate and appropriately increase the carbon trading market price. Full article
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18 pages, 1781 KiB  
Article
Comparing the Efficiency of Two Types of Yard Layout in Container Terminals
by Xiaoju Zhang, Yue Gu, Yuqing Yang and Baoli Liu
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7195; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097195 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2605
Abstract
Traditional container terminals usually use a horizontal yard layout, while automated container terminals usually use a vertical yard layout. The two types of yard layout perform differently in the vehicle travel routes, the handling interface points of vehicles and yard cranes, and the [...] Read more.
Traditional container terminals usually use a horizontal yard layout, while automated container terminals usually use a vertical yard layout. The two types of yard layout perform differently in the vehicle travel routes, the handling interface points of vehicles and yard cranes, and the yard cranes travel routes. These differences result in the different indicators between the two types of yard layout, such as yard utilization, average vehicle travel routes, average yard crane travel distance, and overall terminal efficiency etc. This paper uses an analytic method to quantify these indicators of the two types of yard layout. Based on the analysis results, the terminal efficiency is approximated by a queuing network from the overall operations. In the experiment studies, we first evaluate the indicators of the two types of yard layout, respectively. Then, we change the length and width of the yard to compare the efficiency of the two types of yard layout in various yard sizes. Finally, the overall terminal efficiency is compared. Results show that the overall efficiency is significantly affected by the service rate of yard cranes. The results in this paper may provide references for terminal yard design. Full article
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Review

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24 pages, 3722 KiB  
Review
Scope of the Literature on Efforts to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Seaports
by Seyed Behbood Issa Zadeh, José Santos López Gutiérrez, M. Dolores Esteban, Gonzalo Fernández-Sánchez and Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero
Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118558 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3814
Abstract
Seaport activities account for 3% of global carbon emissions, and as an important industrialised economic centre, ports engage in numerous industrial and financial activities that could increase their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprints (CF). The 13th sustainable development goal (SDG) states [...] Read more.
Seaport activities account for 3% of global carbon emissions, and as an important industrialised economic centre, ports engage in numerous industrial and financial activities that could increase their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprints (CF). The 13th sustainable development goal (SDG) states that these activities must be balanced with environmental considerations. Therefore, as critical marine infrastructure, seaports need CF reduction initiatives. This scoping review covers important ideas and ways to reduce the CF in seaports to simplify future policymaking. These approaches include energy management systems, equipment and infrastructures, and carbon emission policies and laws specific to ports. Relevant literature is classified, evaluated, and discussed. The findings are interpreted and discussed based on the current state of ports around the world, using statistical data to demonstrate that there are sufficient regulations and standards in place, but that more work is needed to replace conventional systems with intelligent ones and fossil fuels with renewable energy. Finally, the scoping review results, and scientific interpretations, thoughts, proposals, and recommendations are presented as references for related studies in the future. Full article
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