“Sustainability and Digitalisation in Maritime Logistics”*

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Sustainability and Digitalisation in Maritime Logistics”*

Journal: Maritime Business Review
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Submission deadline: 30 October 2026

This special issue addresses the intersection of sustainability and digitalisation in maritime logistics, a sector under growing pressure from global decarbonisation targets (IMO), supply‑chain fragility, and digital‑technology disruption. It invites research that examines how blockchain, AI, IoT, big data, and digital twins can simultaneously improve environmental performance, operational efficiency, and resilience in maritime and port‑related logistics.

Why this issue matters

• Maritime logistics is a major contributor to global emissions and environmental impact, yet digital technologies offer powerful tools for tracking emissions, optimising routing, and automating processes while improving transparency.

• The COVID‑19 pandemic and recent global disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities in maritime supply chains, making digitally enabled, sustainable, and resilient logistics a strategic priority for industry and policymakers.

• There is still a gap in integrated research on how sustainability and digitalisation jointly reshape maritime operations, regulation, and stakeholder collaboration; this SI aims to fill that gap.

Key themes and research topics

Submissions are welcome on operations management, logistics, technology, and environmental‑policy themes, including (but not limited to):

• Integration of digital technologies for sustainable maritime logistics

  • Applications of blockchain, AI, IoT, big data analytics, and digital twins in emissions‑reduction, fuel efficiency, and transparent supply‑chain management.

• Green innovation and technology adoption

  • Drivers and barriers to green technology adoption (e.g., smart vessels, alternative fuels, AI‑based logistics‑planning) in maritime and port‑related firms.

• Smart ports and sustainable port operations

  • Smart port design, automation, and digital‑platform integration aimed at reducing emissions, congestion, and energy use.

• Carbon‑emissions reduction through digital transformation

  • How digital tools support IMO‑aligned decarbonisation pathways, route optimisation, and energy‑efficient vessel operations.

• Digital compliance with environmental regulations

  • Use of digital systems to monitor, report, and verify compliance with environmental and climate‑related regulations.

• Resilience, risk‑management, and cyber‑security

  • Digital‑risk considerations (e.g., cyber‑attacks, data integrity, system failures) in an increasingly digitalised maritime‑logistics environment.

• Performance‑measurement frameworks

  • Metrics and frameworks that link sustainability and digitalisation outcomes (e.g., carbon‑per‑TEU, digital‑readiness indices, green‑KPIs).

• Policy, governance, and stakeholder collaboration

  • Role of governments, ports, shipping lines, and technology providers in co‑designing digitally‑driven sustainable maritime‑logistics ecosystems.

Guest editors

• Dr Chia‑Hsun Chang, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

• Prof Zaili Yang, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

• Dr Wei (Vera) Zhang, University of Tasmania, Australia

• Prof Adolf K.Y. Ng, BNU‑HKBU United International College, China

Submission details

• Submission platform: Scholar One Manuscripts for Maritime Business Review:
  https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/mabr

• Submission window: 15 January 2026 – 30 October 2026

• Submissions should be original, not previously published or under consideration elsewhere, and must follow the journal’s Author Guidelines.

• The special issue is closely linked to the IAME 2026 conference, and authors are encouraged to connect their work to the maritime‑business and policy community.

This SI is ideal for logistics and supply‑chain scholars, port‑and maritime‑management researchers, operations‑management specialists, and policy analysts working on sustainable and digital‑enabled maritime logistics.

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