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The maritime operations present several pain points, such as low transparency, poor paperless efficiency, and difficult trust management among supply chain participants. Blockchain is emerging as an innovative technology that solves pain points of maritime operations. Blockchain adoption in the maritime literature remains scarcely investigated, especially in identifying potential factors that may affect blockchain adoption intention. Based on the technological-organizational-environmental (TOE) framework, this study develops the research model to examine the determinants of blockchain adoption intention. Data collected from 161 firms in Taiwanese maritime industry were used to test the hypotheses in the research model. The findings revealed that knowledge absorption capability is the most important enablers of blockchain adoption in the organizational context, followed by perceived relative advantage in the technological context, and trading partner influence in the environmental context. Unexpectedly, perceived complexity does not appear to be decisive in predicting blockchain adoption intention. This study also discusses theoretical and managerial implications by providing valuable insights into the determinants of blockchain adoption intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a comprehensive framework for enhancing information exchange in ship maintenance through the integration of Digital Twins (DTs) and the Internet of Things (IoT). The maritime industry faces significant challenges in maintaining ships due to issues like data silos, delayed information flow, and insufficient real-time updates. By leveraging advanced technologies such as DTs and IoT, this framework aims to optimize maintenance processes, improve decision-making, and increase the operational efficiency of maritime vessels. Digital Twins create virtual replicas of physical assets, allowing for continuous monitoring, simulation, and prediction of ship conditions. Meanwhile, IoT devices enable real-time data collection and transmission from various ship components, facilitating a seamless flow of information. This integrated approach enhances predictive maintenance capabilities, reduces downtime, and improves resource allocation. The article will delve into the architecture of the proposed framework, implementation steps, and potential challenges, supported by case studies that demonstrate its practical application and benefits. By addressing these aspects, the framework aims to provide a robust solution for modernizing ship maintenance operations and ensuring the longevity and reliability of maritime assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of artificial intelligence models for the fault diagnosis of marine machinery increased expeditiously within the shipping industry. This relates to the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in capturing fault patterns in marine systems that are becoming more complex and where the application of traditional methods is becoming unfeasible. However, despite these advances, the lack of fault labelling data is still a major concern due to confidentiality issues, and lack of appropriate data, for instance. In this study, a method based on histogram similarity and hierarchical clustering is proposed as an attempt to label the distinct anomalies and faults that occur in the dataset so that supervised learning can then be implemented. To validate the proposed methodology, a case study on a main engine of a tanker vessel is considered. The results indicate that the method can be a preliminary option to classify and label distinct types of faults and anomalies that may appear in the dataset, as the model achieved an accuracy of approximately 95% for the case study presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] The threat of cyber-attacks is very acute. The purpose of this paper is to examine the need of the amendment of rules of international law required for the cyber resilient enterprise. [Methodology] This paper proposes a novel approach investigating whether the amendment of rules of international law is required for the cyber resilient enterprise. The methodology of international legal research and analysis of data is applied. [Findings] The analyses in this paper show the impact of the cyber security on the shipping industry. The proposals of documents on cyber security and recommendations for maritime cyber risk management are discussed. [Practical Implications] This study is useful for practitioners to consider and evaluate the cyber security. This study is useful for graduate students as well. [Originality] Although some research is being conducted in this area, maritime cybersecurity has not been deeply investigated. This paper presents a detailed analysis of legal documents and research published in international studies on the law of cyber security for maritime industry highlighting security problems and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the balance, and the shift in balance, between technologies and practices that coordinate work. The empirical data stems from a primarily qualitative study of a Norwegian shipyard in a phase of transition, where new models of collaboration emerge due to changes in the company environment. The article highlights the interplay between formal and informal articulation work, as well as the role of coordinative IT artifacts in this regard. With this background, the findings show that the balance (between coordinative technologies and practices) shifts depending on circumstances. Thus, the more formal coordination gains importance as transitions increases the need for detailed instructions. The findings also show that the existing IT infrastructure (the legacy) lacks the granularity as a coordinative artifact to facilitate necessary change in the organizational work arrangement, and how the workers cope with such issues. Based on this, the paper provides insights into how articulation work and its sociomaterial aspects develops over time in the interplay of organizational and technological change (or lack thereof). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study delves into the factors influencing digital technology adoption and the dynamics of its institutionalization within the Thai maritime industry, a key sector underpinning Thailand's economic expansion. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with executive leaders from seven Thai shipowners, utilizing a snowball sampling method. The study reveals that digital technology adoption is driven by a complex interplay of factors including reliable IT infrastructure, perceived technological benefits, organizational culture, top management support, IT skills and support, legal, regulatory, and policy requirements, social pressure influence, and varying degrees of government support. Additionally, the institutionalization of such technologies within the maritime sector is heavily reliant on well-defined organizational rules and the establishment of trust in technological advancements. These findings not only enrich the theoretical landscape regarding digital adoption but also offer practical insights for industry stakeholders, paving the way for more nuanced interventions and policy formulations aimed at enhancing digital integration in this traditionally conservative sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history, maritime transportation has been preferred for international and intercontinental trade thanks to its lower cost than other transportation ways, which have a risk of ship accidents. To avoid these risks, underwater wireless sensor networks can be used as a robust and safe solution by monitoring maritime environment where energy resources are critical. Energy constraints must be solved to enable continuous data collection and communication for environmental monitoring and surveillance so they can last. Their energy limitations and battery replacement difficulties can be addressed with a path planning approach.This paper considers the energy-aware path planning problem with autonomous underwater vehicles by five commonly used approaches, namely, Ant Colony Optimization-based Approach, Particle Swarm Optimization-based Approach, Teaching Learning-based Optimization-based Approach, Genetic Algorithm-based Approach, Grey Wolf Optimizer-based Approach. Simulations show that the system converges faster and performs better with genetic algorithm than the others. This paper also considers the case where direct traveling paths between some node pairs should be avoided due to several reasons including underwater flows, too narrow places for travel, and other risks like changing temperature and pressure. To tackle this case, we propose a modified genetic algorithm, the Safety-Aware Genetic Algorithm-based Approach, that blocks the direct paths between those nodes. In this scenario, the Safety-Aware Genetic Algorithm-based approach provides just a 3% longer path than the Genetic Algorithm-based approach which is the best approach among all these approaches. This shows that the Safety-Aware Genetic Algorithm-based approach performs very robustly. With our proposed robust and energy-efficient path-planning algorithms, the data gathered by sensors can be collected very quickly with much less energy, which enables the monitoring system to respond faster for ship accidents. It also reduces total energy consumption of sensors by communicating them closely and so extends the network lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seafarers are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), potentially due to a stressful working environment and behavioral risk factors. To develop better prevention strategies, it is important to elucidate the extent of this risk. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on CVD in seafarers. Method: We conducted systematic searches in five databases. All studies investigating CVDs among occupational seafarers, published in articles or conference papers, were eligible for inclusion. The identified records were screened and reviewed by two independent researchers, who also evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Three thousand nine hundred and seventeen records qualified for screening, and 55 were eligible for inclusion. Most of the studies were observational, including cohort, frequency, incidence or prevalence studies, and review of case records. Around half were assessed at risk of biased findings. Participants in the studies were primarily from North America or the European continent and work onboard transportation vessels. Many studies investigated CVDs as a cause of death, focusing on conditions such as CVD, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Frequency of CVD conditions varied but indicate that seafarers face a greater risk compared to the reference populations or control groups. Environmental factors were mainly investigated as risk factors. Conclusion: Our results indicate a higher risk of CVDs among seafarers compared to reference or control groups. However, due to the variable quality of the evidence, well‐designed studies are needed to establish the causes of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in seafarers and to investigate behavioral aspects of cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] The threat of cyber-attacks is very acute. The purpose of this paper is to examine the need of the amendment of rules of international law required for the cyber resilient enterprise. [Methodology] This paper proposes a novel approach investigating whether the amendment of rules of international law is required for the cyber resilient enterprise. The methodology of international legal research and analysis of data is applied. [Findings] The analyses in this paper show the impact of the cyber security on the shipping industry. The proposals of documents on cyber security and recommendations for maritime cyber risk management are discussed. [Practical Implications] This study is useful for practitioners to consider and evaluate the cyber security. This study is useful for graduate students as well. [Originality] Although some research is being conducted in this area, maritime cybersecurity has not been deeply investigated. This paper presents a detailed analysis of legal documents and research published in international studies on the law of cyber security for maritime industry highlighting security problems and challenges.

This study aims to test and evaluate various pedagogical strategies that can improve students’ comprehension of Maritime English course materials and help them confidently participate in English-based assessments. A comparative research methodology was employed, focusing on integrating specific strategies and tools into the curricula of maritime programs. The study focused on the Norwegian case at NTNU in Ålesund, featuring a 3-year Shipping Management program (Bachelor’s degree) with 45-60 students. The findings from the Norwegian case demonstrate a significant improvement in students’ willingness and ability to engage in English-language assessments, highlighting the effectiveness of the pedagogical approaches implemented. The study results align with existing literature, highlighting the need for continuous innovation in pedagogical approaches to Maritime English education. By the end of the course, 72.2% of students felt comfortable taking the exam in English, compared to only 25.8% at the beginning of the semester. Weekly lectures in English with presentations were identified as the most helpful tool, followed by group work, homework, and vocabulary lists. The use of digital interaction and software tools received a high score – 8.0 out of 10.0. The significant improvement in students’ confidence in English, along with their strong overall ratings of teaching tools, demonstrates the effectiveness of these methods in overcoming initial language barriers. Further recommendations include combining traditional teaching methods with modern digital tools to enhance learning outcomes. By focusing on student-centered approaches and integrating both traditional techniques and technological tools, institutions can foster the development of a more proficient maritime workforce.

This exploratory study delves into the factors influencing digital technology adoption and the dynamics of its institutionalization within the Thai maritime industry, a key sector underpinning Thailand's economic expansion. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with executive leaders from seven Thai shipowners, utilizing a snowball sampling method. The study reveals that digital technology adoption is driven by a complex interplay of factors including reliable IT infrastructure, perceived technological benefits, organizational culture, top management support, IT skills and support, legal, regulatory, and policy requirements, social pressure influence, and varying degrees of government support. Additionally, the institutionalization of such technologies within the maritime sector is heavily reliant on well-defined organizational rules and the establishment of trust in technological advancements. These findings not only enrich the theoretical landscape regarding digital adoption but also offer practical insights for industry stakeholders, paving the way for more nuanced interventions and policy formulations aimed at enhancing digital integration in this traditionally conservative sector.

Throughout history, maritime transportation has been preferred for international and intercontinental trade thanks to its lower cost than other transportation ways, which have a risk of ship accidents. To avoid these risks, underwater wireless sensor networks can be used as a robust and safe solution by monitoring maritime environment where energy resources are critical. Energy constraints must be solved to enable continuous data collection and communication for environmental monitoring and surveillance so they can last. Their energy limitations and battery replacement difficulties can be addressed with a path planning approach.This paper considers the energy-aware path planning problem with autonomous underwater vehicles by five commonly used approaches, namely, Ant Colony Optimization-based Approach, Particle Swarm Optimization-based Approach, Teaching Learning-based Optimization-based Approach, Genetic Algorithm-based Approach, Grey Wolf Optimizer-based Approach. Simulations show that the system converges faster and performs better with genetic algorithm than the others. This paper also considers the case where direct traveling paths between some node pairs should be avoided due to several reasons including underwater flows, too narrow places for travel, and other risks like changing temperature and pressure. To tackle this case, we propose a modified genetic algorithm, the Safety-Aware Genetic Algorithm-based Approach, that blocks the direct paths between those nodes. In this scenario, the Safety-Aware Genetic Algorithm-based approach provides just a 3% longer path than the Genetic Algorithm-based approach which is the best approach among all these approaches. This shows that the Safety-Aware Genetic Algorithm-based approach performs very robustly. With our proposed robust and energy-efficient path-planning algorithms, the data gathered by sensors can be collected very quickly with much less energy, which enables the monitoring system to respond faster for ship accidents. It also reduces total energy consumption of sensors by communicating them closely and so extends the network lifetime.

The mental health and overall quality of seafarers are critical to the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. This study investigates the factors influencing the quality of Indonesian seafarers, with a particular focus on mental health as a mediating variable. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS), we analyzed data from 280 respondents, including skippers and crew members working on Indonesian flagged ships. The study examines the impact of working conditions, recruitment and placement, training and development, and safety culture on seafarer quality, both directly and indirectly through mental health. Our findings indicate that mental health significantly mediates the relationship between these factors and the quality of seafarers. Training and development emerged as the most influential factor, followed by safety culture, recruitment and placement, and working conditions. The results emphasize the importance of enhancing mental health support to improve working conditions, recruitment processes, training initiatives, and safety culture, thereby increasing productivity and the overall quality of seafarers. This research addresses an empirical gap by providing practical strategies to improve Indonesian seafarers' quality and job stability in the global maritime industry. Future research should expand the geographic scope and explore additional factors affecting seafarer quality and mental health.

Deep learning is crucial in marine logistics and container crane error detection, diagnosis, and prediction. A novel deep learning technique using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) detected and anticipated errors in a system with imbalanced data. The LSTM model was trained on real operational error data from container cranes. The custom algorithm employs the Synthetic Minority Oversampling TEchnique (SMOTE) to balance the imbalanced data for operational data errors (i.e., too few minority class samples). Python was used to program. Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlation matrices and covariance matrices are presented. The model's training and validation loss is shown, and the remaining data are predicted. The test set (30% of actual data) and forecasted data had RMSEs of 0.065. A heatmap of a confusion matrix was created using Matplotlib and Seaborn. Additionally, the error outputs for the time series for the next n seconds were projected, with the n seconds input by the user. Accuracy was 0.996, precision was 1.00, recall was 0.500, and f1 score was 0.667, according to the evaluation criteria that were produced. Experiments demonstrated that the technique is capable of identifying critical elements. Thus, future attempts will improve the model's structure to forecast industrial big data errors. However, the advantage is that it can handle imbalanced data, which is usually what most industries have. With additional data, the model can be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the repercussions of crew change practices on contractual adherence within the maritime industry, focusing on PT. Amas Iscindo Utama. Through a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data was collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS, supplemented by qualitative insights derived from open-ended responses. Findings reveal that delayed crew recruitment significantly impacts contractual accuracy and compliance, leading to operational disruptions and challenges in crew management. Recruitment challenges, contractual inconsistencies, operational disruptions, and professionalism and standards emerged as key themes, underscoring the multifaceted nature of crew management dynamics. Strategic recommendations include streamlining recruitment processes, developing standardized contractual templates, fostering transparent communication channels, prioritizing professional development initiatives, and safeguarding crew welfare and rights. Collaboration among industry stakeholders is essential to implement proactive measures and uphold professionalism and adherence to contractual obligations within the maritime sector. This research contributes to advancing knowledge and best practices in crew management and contractual governance, informing policy decisions and interventions to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the maritime industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime transportation is crucial for global trade and responsible for the majority of goods movement worldwide. The optimization of maritime operations is challenged by the complexity and heterogeneity of maritime nodes. This paper presents the emerging deployment of federated learning (FL) in maritime environments to address these challenges. FL enables decentralized machine learning model training, ensuring data privacy and security while overcoming issues associated with non-i.i.d. data. This paper explores various maritime use cases, including fuel consumption reduction, predictive maintenance, and just-in-time arrival. Experimental results using real datasets demonstrate the superiority of FL in predicting the fuel consumption of large cargo ships in terms of accuracy and spatiotemporal complexity over traditional collaborative machine learning approaches. The findings indicate that FL can significantly improve the performance of fuel consumption models in a collaborative way, while ensuring data privacy preservation and no data transmission during the learning process. Finally, this paper discusses open issues and future research directions necessary for the widespread adoption of FL in maritime transportation and settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As technology advances and digitalization becomes more prevalent in the industry, the cyber threats to maritime systems and operations have significantly increased. The maritime sector relies heavily on interconnected networks, communication systems, and sophisticated technologies for its operations, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals, nation-states, and other threat actors. Safeguarding the maritime sector against cyber threats is crucial to ensuring the safety, integrity, and efficiency of maritime operations as well as for protecting sensitive information and global trade. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has played a significant role in addressing cybersecurity issues, leading to the implementation of regulations aimed at risk reduction. This paper delves into the realm of cybersecurity within the maritime industry, offering an in-depth analysis of its various aspects through an extensive literature review based on the latest Version 2.0 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) functional areas. The primary objective is to establish a connection between research and NIST's functions and categories, thereby presenting a nascent perspective and identifying existing security research gaps. Through the adoption of this strategic approach, the present paper aims to cultivate a forward-looking and proactive state of maturity in anticipation of future developments within the maritime industry. The outcomes of this research can provide valuable reference points in academic discourse, potentially leading to new hypotheses, and fuel innovation in developing advanced cybersecurity measures within the maritime industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholders in the maritime industry have been taking steps aimed at adopting Blockchain technology, the popular and innovative technology in recent days, with a view to increasing their competitive advantage. Although there are ongoing adaptation works at Maersk and Port of Rotterdam, this technology is still in its infancy for the maritime industry. The same applies to the number of studies in the academic literature. Adopting a new technology requires a thorough understanding of the intentions, awareness levels, hesitations and requirements of the stakeholders within the relevant industry. In this study, the authors aim to measure the intentions of various stakeholders within the industry in adopting the blockchain technology in terms of payment transactions across Turkey, by means of TAM. According to the findings, there are strong positive relationships between Usage Intention of Blockchain Technology based payment transactions and Perceived Usefulness and also Perceived Ease Of Use seperately. It has been determined that younger participants have a more positive approach to blockchain technology. This is also observed as the level of education increases. The originality and unique value of this paper lie in its investigating blockchain technology adoption in Turkey's maritime industry in terms of payment transactions for the first time. Besides this study helps to better understand the factors involved in the blockchain technology adoption in terms of payment transactions in maritime industry and advances the related literature which has not been researched much. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the current global risks faced by the maritime industry and explores potential solutions to minimize their negative impact on supply chains. It highlights the damaging effects of regional armed conflicts and the challenges associated with different stakeholders working together to ensure connectivity in combat zones at sea. The article also examines the impact of climate change on maritime transport, using the Suez and Panama Canals as examples. In both instances, the instability factors cause significant changes to shipping routes, volumes, and types of cargo transported by sea. These effects can also be observed beyond the region affected by the destabilizing factors or the corresponding types of cargo.

This bibliometric review delves into the topic of "Digital Twin Predictive Maintenance System in the Maritime Industry," examining existing research to identify trends and potential avenues for future exploration. Through analysis of 12 data clusters (consisting of 1,074 publications) from maritime sources, this study uncovers significant growth in interest from 2016 onwards and synthesizes key findings from the historical evolution of Digital Twins. The review highlights various research clusters, including advancements in Digital Twin technology, Smart Manufacturing applications, and the integration of Blockchain. By using bibliometric techniques, the study maps country collaborations and illustrates international research networks in this field. It also highlights the most cited papers, underlining influential contributions and their impact. This comprehensive review offers a unique perspective on the development, collaborations, and key research themes in the context of Digital Twin Predictive Maintenance Systems within the maritime industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to identify the opportunities for improving the employment offers by identifying differences in the requirements as for work on a ship formulated by maritime university students and seafarers. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the goal, the Kano method was applied, to determine the relationship between the level of requirements fulfilled to work on a ship and the students' and seafarers' level of satisfaction. Findings: It was found that there are differences in how students and seafarers perceive the same requirements for working on a ship. As the perception of these requirements depends on the seafaring experience, shipowners should differentiate the terms and conditions of employment formulated in job offers to the targeted group of potential employees. Research limitations/implications: The survey was conducted among students of only one Polish maritime university and, moreover, only seafarers of Polish nationality participated. Hence, future research in this area may include the identification of the requirements for work on board set by students and seafarers of other countries, as well as the identification of differences in the requirements for future work at sea set by students at the beginning and at the end of their education. Practical implications: The study results obtained may prove helpful to shipowners in adjusting the job offers to the target group recruited. Such knowledge can help shipowner companies to effectively prevent the crisis related to the shortage of highly skilled seafarers and the subsequent disruption of the supply chain. In addition, it can also provide guidance for maritime universities to design academic programs customized to the expectations of both shipowners and future seafarers. Originality/value: Research dedicated to assessing the impact of meeting shipboard job requirements on seafarers' satisfaction and dissatisfaction has not yet been conducted. In addition, the paper makes an innovative attempt to confront the requirements for work at sea formulated by seafarers with the requirements of students as future shipboard employees. The survey used the Kano method, a management-specific method not previously used in the maritime industry. The addressees of the results of the survey can be maritime universities, shipowners and maritime industry employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship is often understood as an individualistic endeavour. This article investigates how cultural communities shape entrepreneurial activity through the process of envisioning competing imagined futures. By deploying a microhistorical approach, it explores a public debate about the transition from sail to steam in a late nineteenth-century Danish maritime community. In the debate, local actors evaluated and negotiated future entrepreneurial actions as embedded in existing norms, interpretations of the past, and socio-technical systems rather than independent, non-conformist ventures. The article demonstrates the potential role of community when we attempt to understand better how entrepreneurs construct and dispute over imagined futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is critical to identify ways to successfully implement blockchain which can transform the operations of shipping companies in the coming years. In this light, this study aims to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) of blockchain implementation using a comprehensive theory-driven approach, which is largely ignored by previous studies. The theoretical model is grounded on the synthesis of diffusion of innovation, resource-based view, institutional theory, stakeholder theory and technology-organization-environment framework. Correspondingly, five main-criteria and seventeen sub-criteria are identified. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is applied to rank the CSFs based on the feedback from experienced managers and directors working in maritime shipping companies. The findings show that in descending order of importance, the top five sub-criteria of blockchain implementation are relative advantage, internal leadership, human resources capability, scalability and ease of use. This study has provided a novel theoretical framework for blockchain CSFs research, offered strategy formulation in relation to marketing, technological skills upgrade, investments and subsidization, and knowledge cluster sharing to support blockchain implementation in the maritime industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of artificial intelligence models for the fault diagnosis of marine machinery increased expeditiously within the shipping industry. This relates to the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in capturing fault patterns in marine systems that are becoming more complex and where the application of traditional methods is becoming unfeasible. However, despite these advances, the lack of fault labelling data is still a major concern due to confidentiality issues, and lack of appropriate data, for instance. In this study, a method based on histogram similarity and hierarchical clustering is proposed as an attempt to label the distinct anomalies and faults that occur in the dataset so that supervised learning can then be implemented. To validate the proposed methodology, a case study on a main engine of a tanker vessel is considered. The results indicate that the method can be a preliminary option to classify and label distinct types of faults and anomalies that may appear in the dataset, as the model achieved an accuracy of approximately 95% for the case study presented.

This article proposes a comprehensive framework for enhancing information exchange in ship maintenance through the integration of Digital Twins (DTs) and the Internet of Things (IoT). The maritime industry faces significant challenges in maintaining ships due to issues like data silos, delayed information flow, and insufficient real-time updates. By leveraging advanced technologies such as DTs and IoT, this framework aims to optimize maintenance processes, improve decision-making, and increase the operational efficiency of maritime vessels. Digital Twins create virtual replicas of physical assets, allowing for continuous monitoring, simulation, and prediction of ship conditions. Meanwhile, IoT devices enable real-time data collection and transmission from various ship components, facilitating a seamless flow of information. This integrated approach enhances predictive maintenance capabilities, reduces downtime, and improves resource allocation. The article will delve into the architecture of the proposed framework, implementation steps, and potential challenges, supported by case studies that demonstrate its practical application and benefits. By addressing these aspects, the framework aims to provide a robust solution for modernizing ship maintenance operations and ensuring the longevity and reliability of maritime assets.

Alternative fuels of low or zero carbon content can decarbonise the shipping operations. This study aims at assessing the lifetime environmental-economic sustainability of ammonia and hydrogen, as alternatives to diesel fuel for short sea shipping cargo vessels. A model is employed to calculate key performance indicators representing the lifetime financial sustainability and environmental footprint of the case ship using a realistic operating profile and considering several scenarios with different diesel substitution rates. Scenarios meeting the carbon emissions reduction targets set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2030 are identified, whereas policy measures for their implementation including the emissions taxation are discussed. The derived results demonstrate that the future implementation of carbon emissions taxation in the ranges of 136–965 €/t for hydrogen and 356–2647 €/t for ammonia can support these fuels financial sustainability in shipping. This study provides insights for adopting zero-carbon fuels, and as such impacts the de-risking of shipping decarbonisation. [Display omitted] • Economic and environmental sustainability assessment of diesel fuel substitution. • Scenarios for addressing IMO decarbonisation targets with ammonia and hydrogen. • Hydrogen fuel prices below 700 €/t provide economic sustainability. • Carbon tax of 136 €/t for H 2 and 261 €/t for NH 3 is required to reach baseline NPV. • H 2 substitution scenarios over performs ammonia in economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) has seen slow growth thus far in the maritime industry. Like other industries, maritime companies and institutions have started using AM for prototyping and product development needs but is now beginning to expand into production of end use parts and production tooling. The slow adoption can mainly be attributed to a previous lack of education in additive technology and strategies, current lack of reliability testing of additive machines in a marine environment, and the need for classification and certification of parts and machines before shipowners and crews will likely adopt for widespread use. This article provides a perspective of recent AMactivities within the industry and discusses the need for research in key areas before widespread utilization can occur. Current use includes a recent push in maritime education, surveys of maritime workers and stakeholders, and fabrication of replacement parts, propellers, and boat hulls. Prospective key areas with the need for further research include 1) use-cases for replacement parts on ship, 2) economic feasibility of putting 3D printers on board, 3) standards, certification, and quality assurance, and 4) reliability and repeatability in a marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to pressure to improve energy efficiency, the maritime industry may soon face demands to reduce underwater noise from shipping. This is illustrated by a large number of studies being reviewed by UN panels to bring clarity to the subject. In this paper, the studies relevant to shipping and shipbuilding are reviewed. From this review the progress of the consultative process, possible shortcomings, and potential collaborative actions beneficial to the marine industry are identified. Key revelations include inconsistencies in the way the scientific community represents shipping noise and areas where more focus is needed to ensure resilience. Furthermore, several future research focus topics are suggested in order to address these issues. This paper does not argue for or against underwater noise being viewed as harmful to marine life; it only serves to review the current consultative process and how the maritime industry could benefit from participating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented research shows the possibilities of using chatbot technology in the maritime industry. The authors pay special attention to maritime education, broken down into standard and complementary education. The research is based on the results of a survey, which addresses students of five European maritime universities and examines their opinions about chatbots. Additionally, analogies are applied to the case studies of the successful implementation of chatbots in non-maritime businesses. This research determines the current status and development opportunities of maritime chatbots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review explores the concept of unconscious gender bias within the maritime industry, focusing specifically on seafarers. Unconscious bias refers to implicit stereotypes and attitudes that influence decision-making processes without conscious awareness. In the context of seafaring, where diverse crews operate in confined spaces for extended periods, understanding and addressing unconscious bias becomes crucial for fostering inclusive and harmonious shipboard environments and mitigating gender bias. The review begins by examining theoretical frameworks related to unconscious bias, drawing from psychological, organizational behavior, and maritime literature. Various models, such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and social cognitive theories, are explored to provide a foundation for understanding how biases develop and manifest among seafaring populations. The maritime industry's unique characteristics, including hierarchical structures, cultural diversity, and isolation during voyages, are analyzed to identify specific factors that may contribute to the emergence of unconscious biases. Additionally, the review delves into studies addressing the impact of biases on decision-making, communication, and overall team dynamics within the maritime context. Furthermore, the review explores interventions and best practices proposed in the literature to mitigate unconscious bias among seafarers. Training programs, diversity initiatives, and cultural awareness campaigns are examined for their effectiveness in promoting a more inclusive and equitable maritime workplace. Based on this review, we conceptualize unconscious gender bias as a socio-technical problem and propose a theoretical framework that offers a combination of technological, organizational, and societal approaches as well as three main propositions to possibly mitigate the biased effects. Lastly, this paper considers future research on the management of unconscious gender bias in the organizational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shipbrokers play a key role in maritime industry by acting as intermediates between shipping companies and the market. They undertake various chartering, buying or selling operations. In this paper, we propose a mathematical programming approach for the evaluation and selection of shipbrokers. Specifically, the score of each ship broker is a composite measure that is derived by aggregating a set of performance criteria, e.g., reputation, etc. The developed mathematical programming models enable the aggregation and weighting of the criteria. We employ three optimization models to explore the effect of different weighting schemes on the scores and ranking of the shipbrokers. The models that provide a common set of weights for all the shipbrokers establish the appropriate ground for comparisons among them. Also, our models facilitate the incorporation of user priorities over the criteria in the form of weight restrictions. The proposed approach is illustrated by assessing seven shipbroker offers for selling a dry-bulk ship using four criteria, namely revenue, brokerage fee, brokerage time and terms & conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of maritime circularity has gained increasing attention to address challenges arising from the net-zero targets of the maritime industry. The circular economy provides potential solutions to address these challenges through reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling practices. However, the industry faces complex challenges, including inefficient reverse supply chains, a lack of awareness about circular economy principles, standardisation issues, and the need for digital infrastructure to provide vital information in the sector. These challenges prevent the implementation of circularity practices, as access to crucial data throughout the vessel's life cycle is obstructed. This novel research aims to create a robust first-of-its-kind database solution specifically designed to support the industry's shift towards circularity. The database will facilitate fast and transparent information flow between the stakeholders, providing foundations for asset tracking and a robust reverse supply chain. A case study was conducted to show that a database could help extract higher financial value from end-of-life ships by over 80%. The ageing fleet increases the urgency of utilising such a database, which could be a pivotal strategy for a sustainable and circular industry. This digital solution offers significant benefits to all industry stakeholders and allows holistic resource management, influencing maritime operations' sustainability, resilience, and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime industry is regarded as the fulcrum of the global economy. It contributes significantly in diverse ways to the movement of goods. To effectively deliver on its mandate, maritime transportation needs to be sustainable. In the absence of a resilient and highly adaptive workforce; however, it is impossible to address the tangible set of economic, environmental and social expectations for the sector. From a human capital perspective, this paper explores the emerging dynamics of producing a sustainable workforce for global maritime transportation. Results from a recent study involving 305 ship officers (web-based survey) are compared with new changes (from academic sources and industry reports) in the maritime transportation sector. The comparison (findings) highlights emerging changes within the global maritime workforce and the implications for skill development. It also emerged that the shortage of highly skilled talent (on both the landside and seaside) is a critical challenge and is being exacerbated by growing industry changes. Ultimately, these developments endanger sustainable maritime transportation. Consequently, the paper proposes a skill resilience framework with which industry stakeholders could identify skill gaps among the workforce and improve training content to produce an adaptive workforce capable of handling emerging challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recently, decarbonizing the maritime industry, which accounts for 2.8% of world emissions, has become essential. However, as a crucial component of maritime transportation, container shipping also carries substantial significance. In this context, the International Maritime Organization endeavors to endorse several projects and methods to mitigate maritime transport emissions. As a result, this research assesses frameworks, infrastructure, training, and other critical factors to analyze multiple operational and technological possibilities for predicted decarbonization solutions in container shipping using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach to assess ship owners' and stakeholders' desires. It employs a comprehensive methodology that begins with a systematic literature review using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method to prepare questionaries, followed by an MCDM analysis using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods to examine the results. This research contributes to the scholarly discourse on reducing the emissions of maritime transportation. According to the findings, operational alternatives, such as ship speed, trim, and maritime route optimizations, are considerably more appealing than design and technology solutions, such as technically advanced ship hulls or machinery reforms. The pragmatic advantages of the operational alternatives, such as lower costs and shorter implementation schedules, stimulate their adoption. In contrast, design and technological solutions can influence emission reductions in the long term. It is possible to find operational alternatives for short-term decarbonization, while technological and design advancements can aid in long-term emission reductions in container shipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maritime Employment Agreement serves as the legal foundation and framework that influences the professional lives and well-being of ship crews in the maritime industry. This study evaluates and analyzes the content of the Maritime Employment Agreement applicable to the crew of Harbour Tug vessels at PT. Waruna Nusa Sentana Jakarta. The focus is on the provisions stipulated in the agreement, including the rights and obligations of seafarers and the responsibilities of transport employers in waters. This research employs a normative legal research method supported by empirical juridical data. The approach involves legislation and legal concept analysis. The data utilized includes primary sources (through interviews and observations) and secondary sources (as supporting materials), including relevant legal regulations such as the Commercial Code, Criminal Code, Civil Code, Labor Law, Shipping Law, and Government Regulations on Maritime Affairs. Therefore, this study contributes to a better understanding of the role and impact of the Maritime Employment Agreement in the crucial harbor tug sector at PT. Waruna Nusa Sentana Jakarta and the maritime sector as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarbonization of the shipping industry is pushing towards the introduction of low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen carriers and towards the installation of cleaner propulsion systems. Among different hydrogen carriers, ammonia (NH3) is considered a promising option due to its high volumetric energy density and to its easier storage and transportation in comparison with pure hydrogen. Therefore, this study is focused on the design, modeling, and feasibility assessment of ammonia-based propulsion systems for shipping applications. Two NH3-based fuel cell power generation systems are analyzed: i) a NH3-based Proton exchange membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) system and ii) a NH3-based Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system. These systems are designed to replace a conventional diesel powertrain installed on board a container ship. The fuel consumption, according to the ship load profile, is calculated and the analysis on the masses and volumes of the fuel storage tanks and of the ammonia powertrain systems is performed. Results highlight that on board installation of the proposed ammonia-based propulsion technologies causes greater masses and volumes with respect to the conventional diesel system. This criticality, in the face of an advantage in terms of avoided CO2 emissions per cruise, could be overcome by accepting a cargo capacity reduction. It is estimated a cargo reduction in the range 3.3% − 4.8% for the proposed fuel cell-based powertrain solutions. However, by valorizing the avoided CO2 emissions, it is possible to recover the economic penalty due the cargo reduction and break-even with the reference diesel scenario.

The marine fisheries are one of the vital occupations in the southern parts of India. This industry is considered to be the foundation of revenue generation for these states. Kerala, being located at the southernmost part of India, is promoting this industry with support from inter-state migrant labourers. The inter-state migrants working in Kerala’s maritime industry are from northern and southern India. As a result of higher salaries and improved working conditions in this unskilled sector, people from the North and Eastern parts of the country have started to migrate to Kerala. Indeed, the continual cash flow in this sector makes it lucrative and invites a large influx of migrant labour to this region. These inter-state migrant labourers work for more than eight hours and spend 10 to 15 days at sea while fishing. They have to stay with heavy pieces of equipment at sea away from shore. This heart-wrenching situation deteriorates their health. They come across various kinds of professional injuries while fishing. Some of these fishermen and fisherwomen encounter long-term effects from those injuries. On the other hand, catering to their health needs seems challenging due to the lack of adequate medical facilities for migrant labourers. Following the increase in migratory flow, Kerala’s health system has faced several institutional impediments. The lack of identification of migrant labourers cripples the entire process of providing access to a better healthcare system to them. As a result, inter-state migrant labourers in the marine industry are facing various health-related challenges due to the nature of this profession and the apathy of state machinery. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the health issues affecting the inter-state migrant labourers in Kerala’s marine sector through a mixed-method research design.

Maritime transportation is crucial for global trade and responsible for the majority of goods movement worldwide. The optimization of maritime operations is challenged by the complexity and heterogeneity of maritime nodes. This paper presents the emerging deployment of federated learning (FL) in maritime environments to address these challenges. FL enables decentralized machine learning model training, ensuring data privacy and security while overcoming issues associated with non-i.i.d. data. This paper explores various maritime use cases, including fuel consumption reduction, predictive maintenance, and just-in-time arrival. Experimental results using real datasets demonstrate the superiority of FL in predicting the fuel consumption of large cargo ships in terms of accuracy and spatiotemporal complexity over traditional collaborative machine learning approaches. The findings indicate that FL can significantly improve the performance of fuel consumption models in a collaborative way, while ensuring data privacy preservation and no data transmission during the learning process. Finally, this paper discusses open issues and future research directions necessary for the widespread adoption of FL in maritime transportation and settings.