Key-enabling technologies for automated, economically viable, and resilient waterborne transport

Call for Papers
Key-enabling technologies for automated, economically viable, and resilient waterborne transport
Journal: Maritime Transport Research
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission Deadline: 1 September 2026

Overview
This special issue focuses on how smart vessel technologies, digital integration, and new logistics concepts can support automated waterborne transport. It links automation with safety, efficiency, resilience, and lower environmental impact, especially for short-sea shipping and inland waterway transport. The call also emphasizes the role of business models, policies, and regulatory frameworks in making these systems practical and certifiable.

Scope
The issue welcomes work on modelling and optimization for autonomous short-sea shipping and inland waterway transport. It also includes policy design, regulatory frameworks, technology qualification procedures, logistics process redesign, stakeholder interaction, multimodal system optimization, innovative business models, and smart logistics platforms. The call highlights the synergy between automation, digital logistics, and resilient transport infrastructure.

Submission Information
All submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere. Manuscripts should be submitted through MARTRA’s online system, and authors must select “SI: Automated Waterborne” during article type selection. Papers should be in English and must meet the journal’s standards for originality, contribution, and scientific merit. Accepted papers will be made available on the journal website as soon as they are accepted.

Guest Editors

• Vasso Reppa — Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.

• Nikos Kougiatsos — Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.

• Harilaos N. Psaraftis — Technical University of Denmark, Denmark.

• Marialena Vagia — SINTEF Digital, Norway.

• Nikos P. Ventikos — National Technical University of Athens, Greece.

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