Sustainable port operations and environmental initiatives in Malaysia: A focus on environmental sustainability

Poletan Jugović T., Agatić A., Gračan D., Šekularac – Ivošević S.

Due to the intensity of marina activities and global climate change, marinas are facing the challenge of sustainability. Therefore, the concept of “green port” has now become a requirement. In practice, the term “green port” describes the activities of all stakeholders involved in the port business towards a sustainable development of the port. This paper aims to provide an insight into the current application of sustainability principles and the concept of “green port” in Croatian marinas. Therefore, the concept of “green port” is described. Furthermore, the framework (regulations, policies, international and national certificates and programs) for sustainable activities in Croatian marinas are analyzed. The main part of the paper is the analysis of sustainable activities, i.e. practices in Croatian marinas related to eco-spatial design, standardization and awarding system, energy transition, sustainable waste, water and air systems. Therefore, positive sustainable practices in selected Croatian marinas and aspects that need improvement are identified.

Sogut M.Z., Erdoğan O.

Ports manage many disciplinary processes in maritime transport and the economic mobility of sectoral stakeholders in a circular economic value chain. This process requires developing a holistic concept to ensure the energy and environmental sustainability of ports while improving the resource efficiency and environmental sustainability associated with green growth. In this study, first, a conceptual framework related to the green concept to support environmental sustainability was developed. The green transition was examined intuitively based on green concept criteria in a reference port region, while the energy efficiency potential of ports was assessed using a holistic approach. In the study, air pollution and efficient energy use were found to be the needed indicators for the green concept. According to the holistic evaluation, the energy efficiency potential of the port region was found to be 17.6%, and the release of 25.16 tons of CO 2 to the environment would be prevented. Moreover, when the manageability of energy in ports was evaluated with ISO50001 criteria in the reference port region, the main important needs were observed in 18 indicators. At the end of the study, the development of energy and environmental sustainability was evaluated in terms of decision processes, and suggestions were made. • A holistic concept is developed to ensure energy and environmental sustainability for ports. • The transition of ports is a necessary strategic view to ensure a manageable approach with a green concept. • An approach that can be used for their manageability in port operations will provide an important gain. • A holistic framework model was determined in order to support environmental sustainability. • The energy efficiency potential of ports was evaluated, considering a holistic approach.

Cammin P., Brüssau K., Voß S.

Despite the International Maritime Organization’s ambitious goal to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by 50%, a large portion of maritime ports do not publicly provide port air emissions reporting. It is suspected that the lack of publicly available reporting constitutes its internal absence as well. To provide a systematic picture on the transparency of emissions reporting, we develop an assessment method and apply it to the world’s top 49 container ports. Less than half of the assessed ports provide publicly available emissions reporting. The application of the proposed classification scheme indicates a port’s maturity towards emissions reporting, taking into account a detailed content analysis. Thereby, stakeholders’ communication and guidance towards improving emissions reporting, as part of environmental sustainability reporting, is facilitated. • Empirical study of emissions reporting by top 49 container ports. • Less than half of the ports provide publicly available emissions reporting. • We propose a classification scheme for emissions reporting.

Housni F., Boumane A., Rasmussen B.D., Britel M.R., Barnes P., Abdelfettah S., lakhmas K., Maurady A.

• Environmental sustainability maturity system evaluates port performance measures. • Environmental sustainability maturity applies sustainable development goals in ports. • A comparative analysis of two different environmental management models is tested. • Environmentally Sustainable ports help to reduce global environmental impact. The environmental management structure adopted by port managers with management systems such as ISO 14,001 or EMAS certification provides the basic foundation of environmental sustainability. However, to manage the complexity and the specific characteristics of marine transport activities, port managers must utilize additional sustainability tools to build upon the port's basic management systems structure. This study demonstrates through a case study of Tanger Mediterranean Port Authority, Morocco, and the port of Aalborg, Denmark, two types of maritime ports, that the use of an environmental sustainability maturity system provides the needed integration tool to address specific sustainability issues based on port operational similarities. The identification of sustainability indicators by port managers in monitoring and assessment of environmental management systems for this study was first presented by the authors at an international conference in February 2021.The following study measures the previous identified indicators to demonstrate that as port operations expand to handle increased global trade, the use of an environmental sustainability maturity system guide will assist global port managers in identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and meeting environmental sustainable development goals. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of port managers using an environmental sustainability maturity system guide as a key operational tool in meeting environmental sustainability objectives, which includes port stakeholder input and assessing port operations that impact climate change. These results also provide a basis for continued research on how to optimize port operations to stay competitive in a growing global economy using environmental sustainability practices.

Franchi L., Vanelslander T.

For centuries, ports have functioned as an economic engine, facilitating maritime transport, offering prosperity and social development to the host communities. Ports are gateways for international trade playing a vital role in the world economy, but it is not excluded that port operations can also have adverse effects on the environment. Air and water emissions, marine sediments, noise, waste generation, loss and degradation of terrestrial habitats and changes to marine ecosystems are just some of the leading environmental challenges with port’s operations. Environmental management within port operations has been a rapidly growing trend, with many ports around the world adopting different types of approaches and initiatives to improve ecological performance. Despite that many ports around the world have implemented greening strategies for growth and sustainable development, there are still many other ports that work less than they should do on environmental aspects and on the generation of ‘green ports’. These latter have fallen behind in the development of the theme. Therefore, the work reported here aims at analyzing what the best way to act should be, even starting from the beginning for a port that is not very innovative, in order to pursue the practical and theoretical levels of ‘green port’.

D’Amico G., Szopik-Depczyńska K., Dembińska I., Ioppolo G.

• Digital technologies integrated into port logistics are becoming increasingly decisive among port cities around the world. • The data-based approach has become a necessary modus operandi to promote smart and sustainable logistics development • A multidimensional, holistic framework has been developed to integrate enabling factors of smart and sustainable logistics within port cities • Smart and sustainable logistics initiatives in port cities have the potential to enhance economic, environmental, social and technological efficiency. Digital technologies integrated into port logistics are becoming increasingly decisive among port cities around the world. This growing importance is due to the need for policymakers, urban managers, port authorities, local administrators, shipping companies, couriers, and so on to develop increasingly digitalized and sustainable logistic processes. Therefore, in a global context characterized by intense datafication and globalization of trade, the data-based approach has become a necessary modus operandi to promote smart and sustainable logistics development. This forward-looking model of port logistics uses technologies such as IoT, sensors, cloud computing platforms, Big Data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPS tracking systems, radars, drones, real-time monitoring stations, smart grids, and so on in order to collect, process, monitor and analyse data and information concerning the economic, environmental, social and technological sphere of port cities. In this sense, mobile and fixed platforms help logistics operators to optimize the management of flows (e.g., water, waste, emissions, raw materials, people, monetary investments, etc.) in an efficient and digitized manner. The study proposes a systematic literature review of the most recurring themes concerning smart and sustainable logistics initiatives within port cities in order to develop a multidimensional framework capable of holistically integrating the prevailing enabling factors (Ecosystem, Internal Organization, Data and Security, Policy and Regulation, Finance and Funding, and Digital and Technology), domains (Mobility, Environment, Economy, Telecommunications, Safety and Security, Government, and Community) and goals (Sustainable Development and Digitalization) that characterize smart and sustainable logistical development. To this end, the best practices of several pioneering port cities such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Singapore, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, etc. implemented in partnerships with technology companies such as Cisco, IBM, Huawei and SAP were also analysed. Therefore, the results of this research show that smart and sustainable logistics initiatives in port cities: (a) have the potential to enhance the efficiency of the economic, environmental, social and technological flows; (b) increase the involvement and awareness of stakeholders such as couriers, shippers, shipping companies, citizens, port authorities, municipalities, security officers, gate and terminal personnel, and so on; and (c) provide a detailed overview of the enabling factors, domains and goals that must be activated by port cities to foster a smart and sustainable logistic transition.

Gerlitz L., Meyer C.

Despite high competition among big EU ports, such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, or Valencia, acting as Core Ports in the Trans-European Transport Core and Comprehensive Network (TEN-T), this paper addresses the marginalized decision-making capability for environmental and digital transition immanent in the Small and Medium-Sized Ports (SMSPs) ecosystems in the EU. Irrespective of topical research, little is said about SMSPs ecosystem sustainability robustness and how SMSPs can pursue the transformative way. Here, management and strategic port decision levels are rather patchy and disconnected from the operational port performance. SMSPs are bound to limited resources and low cognitive, organizational, or institutional proximity, compared to their bigger counterparts. This situation provides a lot of room for critical demarche, since in the TEN-T Network, there are 225 Comprehensive and only 104 Core Ports, the majority qualifying, thus, as SMSPs. This research aims at reducing this research-to-practice lacuna by improving limited managerial capacity of SMSPs on environmental responsibility and digital efficiency. Using an ecosystem concept and aggregated empirical data in three EU macro-regions—the Baltic Sea Region, the Adriatic-Ionian Sea Region, and the Mediterranean Sea Region, three specific decision-making tools are suggested for managerial applications to facilitate and reinforce transition in SMSPs for environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic efficiency.

Tijan E., Jović M., Panjako A., Žgaljić D.

This paper researches the role of the port authorities in port governance, and the role of the port authorities in Port Community System implementation. The authors provide the theoretical frameworks of seaports, port authorities, port governance, and Port Community Systems. The literature review was carried out using the Web of Science database and additional relevant sources. The authors concluded that although different port governance models exist (regarding the type of port authority), there is no evidence as to which governance model is universally preferable, as it is specific to each seaport. In addition, the research has shown that port authorities play a very important role in the implementation of a Port Community System, increasing the sustainability of seaport operations. Its implementation enables the port authorities to evolve into real digital hubs and neutral data managers, which ultimately leads to the optimization of seaport processes and more efficient use of transport infrastructure.

Castelló-Taliani E., Giralt Escobar S., da Rosa F.S.

The purpose of this article is to analyze, in a three-stage research project and from an economic an operational perspective, the relationships between environmental expenses, the improvements achieved in five environmental variables analyzed and efficiency. To achieve these objectives, we analyze sustainability reports and economic data from 24 Spanish ports. The three aforementioned stages of this research are the following: first, the analysis of the sustainability reports to determine the level of information; second, the analysis of the economic and operational efficiency; and, third, the analysis of the alignment with the environmental priorities of the Eco Ports-ESPO (European Sea Ports Organization). The results reveal that (1) the type of traffic does not affect environmental actions; (2) environmental performance (improvements) depends on environmental expenditures; (3) environmental spending and efficiency in port operations are correlated; and (4) environmental spending and port economic efficiency are correlated. The research can contribute to the decision-making process of port managers by revealing that the alignment with the EcoPorts priorities can be important to direct the environmental performance of the ports towards the global interests revealed in this indicator. It also reveals that environmental expenditures and investments may be related to environmental performance and economic and operational efficiency. However, it also reveals that it is important to improve the extent of environmental disclosure to better explain the qualitative and monetary characteristics of each piece of information provided about environmental performance.

Stanković J.J., Marjanović I., Papathanasiou J., Drezgić S.

Maritime transport and ports are among the most important linkages between global economies, handling more than 90% of internationally traded goods. Economic importance of maritime transport imposes significant implications on the social and environmental performance of port regions. The paper aims to create composite indices as relevant, scientific-based tools used in comparing and monitoring various aspects of sustainability across 37 sea port regions in seven countries on the European side of the Mediterranean, covering a five-year period from 2014 to 2018. The model encompasses Eurostat and OECD annual NUTS2 level data covering economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. Two important indicators of maritime transport activity, maritime transport of freight and maritime transport of passengers, are included within the group of economic indicators. To create composite indices, the multicriteria decision making (MCDM) framework was used as an integrated approach of entropy in the weighting segment, and the Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment of Evaluations (PROMETHEE) as an aggregation method. The results highlight GDP per capita and population density as indicators of the greatest relative importance when it comes to port regions sustainability. The ranking results indicate that, despite the fact that Attica is the best ranked region in terms of overall sustainability, the largest number of top rated port regions are in Italy, Spain and France.

Salleh N.H., Abd Rasidi N.A., Jeevan J.

Seaport inefficiencies have caused hindrances on the seaport operations especially on operational disruption which eventually contributes to high cost expenses, unnecessary waste and environmental ...

Munim Z.H., Sornn-Friese H., Dushenko M.

This study investigates the appropriate port governance model for implementation of green port management (GPM) practices. Relying on social systems engineering principles, we propose a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework considering four port governance models and five major GPM practice indicators. We validate the MCDM framework using survey data collected from top management executives of three ports in the Indian Ocean Rim — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. We compare the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method with more recently developed Best-Worst Method (BWM) in analysis of the MCDM problem of finding the right port governance model for GPM. We collect data using the ANP and BWM survey in January 2019 and August 2019, respectively, from the same respondents. While participating in the study in January 2019, the respondents did not know that they would respond to the same MCDM problem using a different model, which corresponds to a repeated measures experimental design. In both analyses, we find that increasing privatization in port governance would enhance the implementation of GPM practices. Our study furthermore suggests that BWM is a reliable MCDM method with greater applicability than ANP, as it requires significantly lower number of judgement comparisons. • Social systems engineering driven framework for green port management implementation. • ANP and BWM produce identical results. • Detail illustration of the mathematical calculations in the ANP and BWM methods. • Sustainable port operation and supply chain collaboration are most important criteria. • Higher degree of private involvement in port operation would lead to better GPM implementation.

Prajapati D., Daultani Y., Cheikhrouhou N., Pratap S.

Shipping logistics is one of the very important criteria which can directly and indirectly affect the economy and GDP of any country. Shipping logistics depends on various factors which have been addressed by several authors in their previous studies. Studies in this literature are focused on selecting the most impactful factors among all the criteria. Methods used in this literature are fuzzy Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy Technique for order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for multi-criteria decision analysis. These methods also helped in this literature to develop a new hybrid method “fuzzy TOPSIS AHP”. There have been no studies involving maritime logistics with comparative analysis of multi-criteria decision making i.e., fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS AHP. The literature involved large number of expert opinions on the factor prioritization of maritime logistics. Factors selected for prioritization are Environmental Sustainability, Supply and Demand, Operations and Port Selection. However, the research showed that the comparative analysis of the results was quite opposite to one another and proposed a new way for researchers to use the hybrid method of fuzzy TOPSIS AHP method in future research. The study aimed to improve the existing maritime model which can help professionals to get connected with the maritime logistics firms. The study also aims to contribute this model for researchers in their study related to maritime logistics.

Schubert A., Schubert G.

University level indicators of internationality have been compiled and presented. 18 universities from three countries, Hungary, Israel and Sweden were selected as sample. “Breadth” and “depth” of internationality were distinguished and characterized by bibliometric and webometric tools.

Yau K.A., Peng S., Qadir J., Low Y., Ling M.H.

In this digital age, ports face stiff competition in global supply chain. Smart ports, as high performing ports, utilize information and communications technology (ICT) to provide a wide range of smart applications, resulting in vastly improved vessels and container management among others, which subsequently improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the national economy. While various novel solutions, such as information system and locating system, have been proposed to improve smart port activities, there are several key issues pertaining to ports and port operations that warrant specific attention, particularly greenhouse gases emission, which has accelerated to an alarming level. The urgent need to address such issues is lacking. This article aims to offer a review of the research literature on smart ports, including Internet of Things platform, greenhouse gases emission reduction, energy efficiency enhancement, and so on. The objective is to establish a foundation of existing research conducted on smart ports in order to motivate new research interests in this area. Open issues are also presented to foster new research initiatives on smart ports.